Candidates threaten to boycott National Exams

Candidates for this year's national exams have threatened to boycott if stringent rules adopted by the education ministry are not done away with.

This follows recent changes on examination management policy instituted by education cabinet secretary, Fried Matiangi.

The students through their organization, Kenya Cheating students Enterprise Association (KCSE-A) have lamented on the strict exam conditions that have resulted to systemic failures among candidates sitting for the exams.

"After deliberating on our position in respect of the upcoming national examinations and considering interests of our members. We believe that we will be best served by withdrawing our candidature", said the chair of KCSE-A Mr.Kongowea Mrija at their Okolea Mworio headquarters.

He spoke as the organization launched a drive under the auspices of No cheating No Exams

Mr.Mrija further added , "we cannot participate in a flawed system that is designed to fail us from the onset.We saw it last year when our members failed to score A's yet we had made significant investments."

The organization cited the recent changes which will see both the exam question and answer booklet be a single document.This was aimed at curbing cheating incidents.

"Our irreducible minimums on how this exams Will be conducted haven't been met.Instead the exam council has introduced a raft of new changes which we believe will inconvenience our members." Said the secretary general Liika Mboga.

Mr.Liika further called on members to remain steadfast. Citing a court case which allowed candidates to verify their answers before submitting them to the exam council.

"We won the court of appeal case in 2015 which ensured 100% transition rate to university."

KCSE-A and the education ministry have been at loggerheads regarding amendments to the exam regulations.

Mr.Mrija intimated to this reporter in an exclusive interview that they shall be moving to the subrem goat to seek an interpretation regarding answers verification.

"We will be instituting goat proceedings to understand how candidates can verify their answers in line with article 138 1(c) of the constitution."

"We will also seek prayers on a corrigenda regarding marks standardization in line with the de minimis rule." 

In the meantime the secretary general told members to attend demonstrations to seek the removal of the education CS who was responsible for bangling the 2016 examinations where massive failures were reported.

"From next week we shall hold demos in all learning institutions.We have written to the scouts and girl guides service to provide security.We don't wish to clash with the Teachers Business Community."

Efforts to reach the exam council CEO Mr. Utiaji Utiaji were futile as he was held up in crisis meetings with other council members over a leaked memo which intimated that some members of the council support KCSE-A which has resulted to a split in the council.