Media Asked To Stop Reporting Negatively About KCSE Exams.
Amb Simon Nabukwesi, Principal Secretary of the State Department for University Education and Research, has asked the media to stop reporting negatively on the ongoing KCSE national examinations.
While describing the examination’s integrity as “perfect,” he added that the few reported cases of cheating that have marred the exercise should not be used to taint the entire examination process.
He stated that the exams went well in the majority of the centers and challenged the press to be more objective in their reporting.
“When there is a drop of dirty water in the ocean, it does not mean that the whole ocean is dirty. Water still remains clean. The integrity of the examination is perfect,” said Amb Nabukwesi.
“Whatever is projected by the media is what the world will capture, so when reports come out that exams have been leaked, the world automatically puts our education certificates in a position where anyone in the world can challenge the education system and also it puts us in a position where we can be avoided, especially when people want to study in good universities out there,” he added.
The PS spoke after supervising the opening and distribution of KCSE examination papers at the Nyeri Central Deputy County Commissioners office on Thursday. He also praised education and security officials for their transparency.
So far, no cases of exam malpractice have been reported to Nyeri.
At the same time, the PS asked education and security officials in charge of the ongoing examinations to ensure that they continue to follow the set invigilation guidelines, noting that the candidates looked up to them for guidance.
He also chastised the officers for failing the integrity test by assisting students in cheating.
“I personally believe that any officer who assists the students to cheat was also assisted to cheat. If you were not assisted to cheat you cannot participate in this idea of quick fixes so that the student comes out with As and feels proud when it is all fake and earned dishonestly.
Principal Secretary University Education and Research Amb. Simon Nabukwesi addresses the media in Kirinyaga West and encourages Principals to observe integrity of exams and discourage candidates from involving themselves in examinations malpractices.
“Let us teach these children to value the principles of sowing and reaping so that they get it right and we shall protect the integrity of the exam,” said Nabukwesi.
On Thursday, the KCSE 2021 entered day nine, with candidates writing the Christian/Islamic/Hindu Religious Education Paper 2 in the morning and the History and Government Paper 2 in the afternoon.
In Nyeri, approximately 20,316 candidates are taking their KCSE exams at 223 examination centers.
Four of them are inmates at the maximum-security prison of King’ong’o. The final exam is scheduled for Friday, April 1.
His words come at a time when several students, teachers, supervisors, and center managers were arrested for assisting in exam irregularities during the first week of KCSE exams.
There were cases of students found with mobile phones in exam centers, university students arrested for impersonation, and an incident in Kericho in which three people, two teachers and a lab technician, were arrested for assisting in KCSE exam cheating.
The three were discovered with mobile phones that contained the 2021 Chemistry practical paper.
Concerning the issue of student transition to university, the PS stated that the next university placement is scheduled for June of this year.
He stated that the Kenya University Central Placement Service has already revised its list of requirements in order to make it easier for qualified students to be assigned slots in universities.
Amb Nabukwesi also mentioned that the Higher Education Loans Board has stated its intention to assist needy students through education loans.
“I have been telling the candidates that we are waiting to receive them in June to join university and start pursuing their degree courses.
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"The government has been so fair in terms of making university education accessible to everybody because fees at the university is Sh16, 000, far much cheaper than it is in secondary schools.
"HELB is also ready to support those who may not have the capacity to pay their university fees so we are ready for them,” said Amb Nabukwesi.
PS University Education and Research Amb. Simon Nabukwesi at Onjiko boys in Nyando,, Obwolo and Kasagam secondary schools in Kisumu East during the opening and distribution of the exam papers.
Media Asked To Stop Reporting Negatively About KCSE Exams
