About 80 Cases of KCSE Exam Malpractices Reported.
About 80 cases of malpractices have been reported in the ongoing KCSE examinations, which points to possible relaxation of exam management rules that have been in place for the past six years.
Since the start of the KCSE exams, about 80 cases of malpractice have been reported, but Education CS George Magoha has dismissed them as mere attempts to cheat.
More arrests are being made, including of teachers, as the number of mobile phones confiscated during the administration of the tests continues to rise.
The most recent example is the arrest and detention of 42 students from Dibuoro Secondary School in Usonga ward in Alego, Siaya County, for exam malpractice.
The students were discovered with four cell phones containing the contents of Friday’s chemistry practical exam and Thursday’s Swahili exam.
While acknowledging that attempts to steal the exams had occurred, Prof Magoha confirmed on Friday that the papers had been leaked.
Those who are sharing photos of the papers, he claims, are taking advantage of the time between when they are collected from the containers and when they are scheduled to begin.
Cases of impersonation have also been reported, prompting industry participants to wonder aloud whether the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) and the Ministry of Education have let down their guard.
In an effort to reduce cheating, the CS pushed the time for opening the exam containers forward.
The containers will now be opened at 6.30 a.m., rather than 6 a.m. previously, according to the CS.
Prof Maghoha observed that the majority of the reported malpractices occurred after the papers had begun.
Unscrupulous people have been distributing photos of KCSE exams on online platforms, undermining the government’s efforts to curb cheating.
Nation reports that exam photos are freely shared in one Telegram group with 5,800 members as students take them.
The Kiswahili paper, which had begun at 10.45 am, was uploaded to the group at 11.39 am on Thursday.
It was scheduled to end at 1.15 pm. A teacher confirmed to the Nation that the uploaded exam was the one given.
At 9.25 a.m. on Friday, photos of the chemistry practical test were uploaded. The exam was scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. and end at 10.15 a.m., but due to infrastructural challenges in some schools, it was expected that candidates would take the exam in shifts, giving those who sat it later in the day a likely advantage.
Copies of the Chemistry Paper 2 exam, which was given on Wednesday at 11.30 a.m., were also posted in the group a few minutes before the start time.
3 Teachers, Police Arrested Over KCSE Exam Leakage
The Nation is said to have alerted Telegram and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations about the group (DCI) with the seller stating that it is his policy to post papers for free while the exam is taking place.
Curriculum PS Fatuma Chege warned parents and teachers on Friday against assisting candidates in cheating.
Those found guilty, according to the PS, will be dealt with harshly.
A college student arrested on Tuesday in Uasin Gishu for examination malpractice was arraigned and detained for ten days pending investigations.
Eldoret detectives apprehended Mr Eliud Kipchumba. Investigating officer James Barasa asked principal magistrate Naomi Wairimu to detain the suspect pending further investigation.
ALSO READ:
He stated that more suspects in the crime have yet to be apprehended. The court granted police permission to detain the suspect at the Langas station for ten days.
On March 25, the case will be mentioned. Over 70 cases of exam cheating had been reported as of yesterday.
The glaring absence of senior government officials from the daily monitoring rolls, such as cabinet secretaries, chief administrative secretaries, and principal secretaries, has also raised eyebrows.
Previously, more senior government officials were heavily involved in the administration of the tests, which many claimed reduced early exposure to the examination questions.
42 Candidates And Their School Principal In Custody Over KCSE Exam Cheating
About 80 Cases of KCSE Exam Malpractices Reported.
