Exam process is watertight, says Knec

By AUGUSTINE ODUOR

Kenya: Kenya National Examination Council (Knec) has come out to defend the integrity of national examinations as pressure mounts on the examiner to take responsibility for the irregularities.

In response to the accusations levelled against his office, Knec Secretary, Paul Wasanga said exam management is a ‘watertight process’.

 “Leakage occurs after papers leave the council offices,” he said.

He however said some Knec officers may have ‘ill intentions’ but added any leakage from his office would not be piecemeal.

“When it comes from Knec, I can assure you it would be massive,” he said, adding: “What we see are collusions and desperate efforts by unscrupulous persons to get a few questions extracted ahead of the examinations.”

Wasanga said exam setters never get to know the final questions as the selection process is done electronically.

“The questions they compile are sent to the questions’ bank where the ones to be used in examinations are picked by a machine based on knowledge, composition, application, synthesis, analysis and evaluation,” said Wasanga.

Secondary school heads have claimed the examinations are leaked by their colleagues who set the questions.

MPs have also accused Wasanga and his officers of abetting the vice.

This came as Knec boss exposed imposters extorting money from school heads promising to improve the grades of their schools.

According to Wasanga printing is done overseas and preserved with tamper proof seal.

“They are packed in polybags and any leakage at this point means slitting the entire package which is not easy,” he said.

When Knec receives the exams from the printer, it categorises them according to schools and the day’s timetable.

“When the papers leave Knec for the regions, they are under the custody of the police, DEOs, the zonal examination officers and the supervisors. Leakage reports start from this stage and this means it is everybody’s responsibility to ensure credibility of our papers,” he said.