KNEC slaps two-year ban on Form Four exam cheats

By Sam Otieno

If your son or daughter is among the 1,171 candidates whose Form Four results were cancelled because of claims they cheated, then know they can resit the exam in 2012.

This follows a decision by Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) the cheats would not be allowed to sit any examinations for two years. The punitive move is to deter cheating and to help restore the integrity of national examinations.

"The rule barring candidates who engage in examination malpractices takes effect this year. Head teachers and District Education Officers are asked to implement the order immediately. Schools that have received KCSE registration fees from such candidates are hereby informed that they will not be registered for the 2010 KCSE examination,’’ announced KNEC spokesman Ken Ramani on behalf of the council secretary Paul Wasanga. The statement from KNEC said head teachers and District Education Officers had been asked to enforce the order.

"Schools that have received KCSE registration fees from such candidates are hereby informed they would not be registered for the 2010 KCSE examination," Wasanga cautioned.

Wasanga further announced requests for re-marking should be forwarded to the council before April 2, through head teachers, in accordance with the procedures and regulations governing KNEC examinations.

"Issues to do with withheld results can be raised within 30 days, starting March 2," said Wasanga.

"Candidates interested in repeating a few subjects or more would be issued with results indicating the new grades, but their mean grades of the first attempt will not change," he said.

Disappointed parents outside a school whose KCSE candidates had their results cancelled. [PHOTO: OMONDI ONYANGO]

During last year’s KCSE examination released on Tuesday, there were 1,171 cheating candidates down from 1,419 in 2008. Magena Secondary School in Gucha District topped the list, with 180 cases of cheating.

The council revealed candidates smuggled notes into exam rooms. Others used mobile telephones to cheat, and the unscrupulous tried to make a kill by selling fake KCSE papers to students and parents.

Kodero Obara Secondary School in Rongo District had 89 cheating cases, followed by Kaplong Girls Secondary School in Sotik, with 78 cases.

In Kisumu East District, 60 candidates had their results cancelled due to cheating at Ongalo Mixed Secondary School, and 48 candidates at Abuhureira Academy in Mombasa, 44 candidates in Mandera Integrated Academy in Mandera East District, and 28 culprits in Mii Secondary School in Nzaui District.

Facilitate arrests

But Education Minister Sam Ongeri said 22 suspects were arrested and charged in court.

Nine people, among them three candidates and two students, were arrested for distribution and handling of fake examination papers. "To fight the vice we have formed a special unit, which include members from the Police, Ministry of Education, and KNEC, to facilitate arrests of suspects and charge them in court," said Ongeri when he released the results.

Affected districts include Busia, Kakamega Central, Vihiga, Lugari, Samia, Bungoma North and Bungoma East. Busia had the highest cases of irregularities at 47.

There were 24 cases at Busiada Secondary School and 23 at Bujumba Secondary School. Bungoma East followed with 14 cases reported in three schools. There were three cases at Friends School, Bokoli, nine at St Mathews ACK Secondary School, and two at St Cecilia Girls, Misikhu. Bungoma North had nine cases.

Seven cases were reported at Chesamis High School, and two at Elunya Friends School. Four cases were reported at Mbale High, three at St Austin’s Secondary, and two at Ingotse High. Other schools with cases of cheating include Kisumu Day, St Mary Goreti, Dede Girls, Pe-Hill, Manyatta, Lake View, Ombogo Academy, and Rang’ala Girls.

Wasanga also discounted press reports foreign pupils would be locked out of exams this year because of the new rule on birth certificates.

"All students, including foreigners pursuing the Kenyan system of education and intending to sit KNEC-administered exams, are required to present their birth certificates. If they do not have birth certificates, they can present their passport, a letter from the Immigration Department or UNHCR, indicating their immigration or refugee status,’’ KNEC said.