9 School Principals Suspended, 46 Candidates Implicated in KCSE Exam Cheating
Nine secondary school principals are on suspension for allegedly taking part in malpractice nationwide in the ongoing KCSE examination.
Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu says the most prevalent cases of examination malpractice this year included foreign materials in examination rooms, candidate impersonations, and collusion between invigilators and candidates.
Despite CS Machogu’s insistence on the exam’s fair security measures, 46 candidates directly implicated themselves in exam cheating.
The CS spoke on Friday at the Kolanya Girls National School in Teso North, Busia County, during routine supervision of the ongoing KCSE exams.
He reported that the team had sent home three cases of collision, two incidents of impersonation, and nine center managers (principals in charge of schools). Additionally, they had identified 46 implicated candidates.
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According to the CS, the majority of students had foreign materials in their examination rooms.
Basic Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang, who was at Naivasha Girls High School, said the staggered collection of exam material from Ministry of Education collection points has helped prevent early exposure to the exam.
“Out of 11,000 center managers, only seven have been found to be involved in examination malpractices and have accordingly been suspended, and investigations are ongoing for the law to take its’ course,” He said.
High Schools, including Nyambaria High School in Nyamira County, Gekomoni Secondary School, Gekonge High School, and Sironga Girls High School, all situated in the Upper Nyanza region, have seen the suspension of certain center managers or principals.
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He noted that picking up the paper at 1 pm and arriving at the school at a quarter to 2 pm, with the exam starting at 2 pm, or picking it up at 7 am, driving in at a quarter to 8 am, when the paper starts at 9 am, could potentially confuse the candidates even if one aimed to open in 15 minutes. “So, this time, we’re good,” he observed.
Dr. David Njegere, the CEO of the National Examination Council, credited the Ministry of ICT with successfully averting the early exposure and dissemination of examination papers on social media.
Dr. Njegere reported that within those social media platforms and conversations, they have ensured that no untoward activity occurs. He specifically mentioned that, to the best of his knowledge, as of Monday of the current week, there has been no early exposure.
This is despite scores recording statements with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Nyamira and Migori counties. In Nyamira County, an invigilator was presented before the court on counts of examination irregularities.
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Samuel Atuya, who was invigilating the exam at St. Pauls Gekano, denied aiding 16 students at the school with their exam on the 6th of this month.
Nyamira Magistrate William Chepseba released him on a Ksh.10,000 cash bail, setting the mentioned date on the 23rd of this month. The hearing begins on the 14th of February 2024.
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9 School Principals Suspended, 46 Candidates Implicated in KCSE Exam Cheating
