KNEC Outlines Tough Rules for Administering National Examinations Next Month
The Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) has outlined the requirements for administering the national examinations next month.
Both candidates and exam administrators who are found to be in violation of the rigorous rules will be subject to severe penalties.
In a meeting with all Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA), Kenya Certificate for Primary Education (KCPE), and Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) head examiners, the specifics were revealed (KCSE).
Dr. David Njengere, chief executive officer of Kneck, stated that this academic year has been exceptional.
‘‘In a normal school calendar year, Knec administers two examinations; however this year, we will administer a total of five examinations,’’ Njengere said.
He invited stakeholders to share ideas and experiences on how to improve the efficacy and efficiency of national examination marking. Candidates are not permitted any extra time for KCPE and KCSE examinations, per one of the criteria.
In addition, candidates are not permitted to make unnecessary movements during examinations without special permission from supervisors.
Additionally, the Council has recommended against any type of communication between candidates and strangers within or beyond the school’s perimeter.
“No communication whatsoever in whatever manner between candidates or with outsiders is allowed during the examination,” read the rules.
According to Knec, any sort of misconduct during examinations would be interpreted as an attempt to cheat.
Candidates who participate in any type of misbehavior or produce a disturbance within or close to the examination room will be penalized.
In addition, candidates are admonished against revealing their question responses to other students within the examination rooms.
They are instructed not to leave a written sheet of paper or their answers in a position where another candidate could read them.
The regulations state, “You should not offer or receive unfair aid, or seek to do so, whether by copying or otherwise, and your work should not contain evidence of such assistance.”
Candidates who create brief notes and bring them into the examination room will be penalized.
The guidelines indicate candidates are not permitted to have in possession or near the examination room any book, notes, papers, or other materials other than the right question papers and materials expressly authorized by the Knec.
Knec warned against gaining access to examination materials and verbally or in writing disclosing their contents to an unauthorized party.
This is punishable by a fine of not more than Sh2 million, imprisonment for not more than ten years, or both.
As national examinations rapidly approach, it will also be illegal to intentionally damage examination materials.
This will result in imprisonment for a maximum of five years or a maximum fine of Sh5 million or both.
The Council has issued a warning against impersonation and advised individuals who plan to take examinations in place of candidates.
If the impostor is a student, they will be barred for three years from taking a test administered by or on behalf of Knec.
The perpetrator will be subject to imprisonment for up to two years or a fine of up to two million shillings, or both.
If a candidate commits an assessment irregularity in any exam, the entire subject’s scores will be voided.
If widespread irregularities are identified at any assessment center, the entire center’s assessment results will be voided.
The examination organization also cautioned that it will be illegal for anyone other than authorized officers to possess or use a mobile phone in the examination centers.
Candidates, supervisors, invigilators, and principals are prohibited from bringing phones or other electronic devices into examination rooms.
Knec stated, however, that primary schools with a combined candidate pool of thirty (30) or more for both the KCPE and KPSEA examinations will be permitted to administer the exam on their premises.
The Council emphasized that schools must guarantee they have a valid registration certificate from the County Education Board as well as examination rooms that can seat twenty (20) candidates per room with a side-to-side distance of 1.22 meters.
The council specified that schools with less than thirty (30) candidates and more than five (5) kilometers from the nearest test center will request special permission from Knec via the Sub County Director of Education.
Last week, the sub-county directors identified, nominated, and vetted the center managers, supervisors, and invigilators who will spearhead the process.
Nancy Macharia, chief executive officer of the Teachers Service Commission, urged the directors to stick to a ratio of one invigilator for every 20 students and one supervisor for every 200 candidates.
No supervisor should be hired for hosted and KPSEA centers, with the exception of KPSEA-only centers.
You are required to deploy invigilators to hosted and KPSEA centers based on the number of candidates in the examination center,” Macharia noted.
 has issued exam){kind=link}