Don't you dare, CS tells cheats ahead of exams

Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha (right), Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang (left) and Teachers Service Commission CEO Nancy Macharia consult at the Kenya School of Government in Nairobi yesterday. [Phillip Orwa, Standard]

Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha has listed Wajir, Mandera, Garissa and Migori as the counties where there will be heightened surveillance to curb exam cheating.

Prof Magoha warned of severe consequences if he finds evidence of collusion between exam officials, parents, teachers and students to cheat in the national exams that are set to begin in the next two weeks. 

He said surveillance would run up to two kilometres away from schools to ensure that there are no irregularities in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) and Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exams.

Aid cheating

Speaking during the launch of the national examination period yesterday, the CS illustrated his point using Nyatike in Migori County, where teachers colluded with an exam official to aid cheating.

“In Nyatike, for example, last year all our officers went to bed with the teachers there because they had an open exam. All the officials were looking away so that the schools were able to do eight exams as open books. It must not happen this year,” Magoha said.

He added that in almost the entire North Eastern region, the issue of examinations has been politicised.

“I am asking the leaders of North Eastern, that is Wajir, Mandera and Garissa, please kindly allow our children to do their exams without interference, and I can guarantee that you better results,” Magoha said.

“Children are intelligent from everywhere, including North Eastern. You confuse them by giving the wrong answers.”

Magoha said they have sealed all loopholes and would monitor the returning of scripts.

“This time we will know as soon as we have taken the exam that something is missing, and the centre manager will be held responsible,” he said.

He urged parents not to put too much pressure on their children to perform because they have different capabilities.

“Just accept them the way God has given them to you. Not everyone is the same, and don’t make the child go and commit suicide,” Magoha said.

He assured students that everybody would move on to the next stage, and asked them not to take the exam too seriously.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i said no senior security official would be allowed to take leave during examination period.

“This is the time when we all have to focus on the welfare of our children,” he said.

The CS added that if there are areas where they suspect there will be challenges, his officers are ready to deal with them.

He said this year, there are more resources, including aircraft to enable officers to move around with ease.

Undivided attention

Teachers Service Commission CEO Nancy Macharia said cases of exam malpractices are reducing, according to their records.

“In 2015, we handled 66 cases; in 2017 we had 48, and in 2018 we had 30. This year, TSC has dismissed 17 teachers over exam irregularities,” she said.

Ms Macharia added that the commission has cancelled all leave for its staff so they can give the examinations undivided attention.

Kenya National Examination Council CEO Mercy Karogo said this year, there are 1,388,987 and 699,746 candidates registered for KCPE and KCSE, respectively.

KCSE is due to begin in a week’s time with orals and practicals, while KCPE will start on October 29.

“The council requests all those involved to be vigilant and ensure all rules and regulations are followed to prevent any form of malpractice from taking place,” said Ms Karogo.