KCSE 2013: 3,353 to miss results over exam cheating

Education Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi. [Photo: Moses Omusula/Standard]

By Felix Olick

Kenya: More than 3,353 candidates who sat for KCSE exams last year will not receive their results due to cheating. This is as the Government cracks the whip, particularly on national schools engaging in the vice.

The upsurge in cheating has seen the number of candidates who engaged in examination irregularities double, compared to 2012, when 1,700 candidates cheated.

Meru County had the highest number of cheating cases with 471 students having their exam results cancelled.

Other counties adversely affected by the vice were Homa Bay and Siaya counties, which had  the results of 396 and 374 respectively cancelled. Both Kisumu and Kakamega had 239 students cancelled while Kisii had 259. Only seven counties did not cheat in exams, out of the 47. These include Taita Taveta, Lamu, Turkana, Bomet, Laikipia, Kajiado and Baringo.

Among the national schools that cheated included Maranda Boys that topped the nation in 2012. The school that is known to be an academic giant was not ranked because some of its students was involved in the exam irregularity.

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Education Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi fired a warning salvo to national schools engaging in the vice, saying that stern action will be taken against them. 

“I wish to pass a strong warning to schools and especially national schools that involve themselves in examination irregularities,” he cautioned.

“This is despite their advantaged position of having the brightest minds and the best teaching and learning facilities. Cheating in exams will not be tolerated and will be dealt with firmly.”

Exam irregularities

 Kaimenyi revealed that some teachers, head teachers and education officials perpetuated the vice and warned that the act was unacceptable.  “This is unacceptable and disciplinary action will obviously be taken against all those who were involved,” he said.

According to information from Knec, the highest numbers of candidates involved in irregularities were those who colluded, followed by those who were caught with unauthorised material during examinations. Kaimenyi noted that cases of candidates being caught with mobile phones during the examination are also on the increase.

He warned teachers against allowing students to carry mobile phones in schools, saying it is illegal. He warned that the punitive Knec Act will be fully implemented to eliminate the vice.