Knec probe busts 315 schools in cheat plot

Revelations of how 315 schools are planning to cheat in the national examinations have emerged just weeks to the start of the tests.

Details seen by The Standard reveal that some regional Ministry of Education officials, Teachers Service Commission (TSC) officers, parents and teachers have been sucked into elaborate schemes to get around the strict security checks around the exams.

The examination-cheating plan involves officials and schools in 39 counties, with the affected primary and secondary institutions now under increased scrutiny.

A report from the Kenya National Examination Council (Knec) reveals that for the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exams, a total of 190 primary schools have been placed under investigation. The schools are spread across 31 counties.

For the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams, 125 secondary schools are under close scrutiny, also spread across 31 counties.

Counties affected

The counties affected are Kwale, Mombasa, Kilifi, Machakos, Meru, Marsabit, Isiolo, Makueni, Nairobi, Turkana, West Pokot, Trans Nzoia, Bomet, Uasin Gishu, Kericho, Nandi, Kajiado, Nakuru, Baringo, Busia, Bungoma and Kakamega.

Others are Vihiga, Kisumu, Kisii, Homa Bay, Migori, Garissa, Wajir, Mandera, Nyeri, Murang’a, Kirinyaga, Kitui, Embu, Narok, Elgeyo Marakwet, Siaya and Nyamira.

The counties with the highest number of primary schools flagged by the examiner include Garissa (41), Wajir (34), West Pokot (14), Nairobi (11) and Mandera (11).

For the secondary schools, Knec has flagged 22 schools in Garissa, 12 in Migori, 10 in Mandera and six in Wajir.

The country expects 1.8 million candidates to sit both the KCPE and KCSE examinations. Of these, 1.09 will sit for the primary tests, which will be conducted between October 29 and 31. Just under 700,000 students will take the KCSE examinations, which will be conducted between October 21 and November 27.

Undercover investigations by Knec unearthed up to five ways cheating was to be executed in this year’s exams.

The report revealed that some of the regional officials in the ministry and TSC have conspired to retain examination officers in the same schools they invigilated last year.

The identified invigilators and supervisors are expected to use the familiarity developed with centre managers at the schools they officiated last year to allow early exposure to the tests.

And in some schools, the detailed report shows that parents are already paying up to Sh5,000 per candidate to aid in buying examination materials.

Knec Acting CEO Mercy Karogo said security chiefs are on high alert, and cautioned against any form of cheating.

“Let everyone be warned that it shall not be a walk in the park for cheats,” she said.

Unscrupulous cartels

Data from Knec shows that 173,945 personnel will be deployed to administer the KCPE examination, while 6,440 examiners will be invited to mark it.

And for KCSE, 70,790 personnel will be deployed for administration, and 26,597 examiners will mark it.

Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha last month cautioned parents, teachers and examination officials against any behaviour that would compromise the examinations.

Prof Magoha said it had come to his attention that some unscrupulous cartels are keen to infiltrate this year’s tests.

“Some of these people think that because I am not the Knec chairperson things have changed. Tell them that I am now in charge of everything and I am closely monitoring (things). Examinations will not leak,” he said.

To aid in the theft of KCSE examinations, the Knec investigations revealed that some secondary school principals are planning to retain various subject teachers in schools during the tests.

The report says the teachers will be allowed to hang around schools on the dates the candidates will sit the subjects they teach to help the students cheat.

And for KCPE examinations, it emerged that some teachers will strategically be retained in schools to mark the multiple-choice questions for the candidates.

The report reveals that some private schools are also planning to employ this strategy in the KCPE examinations.