New measures to curb exam leaks step in right direction

The recent measures by Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i to curb exam leaks should be hailed as a step in the right direction.

In a bid to tackle the menace, Dr Matiang’i has banned all non-academic activities during the third term of the school calendar. Among the banned activities are prayers involving outsiders, and visiting days.

The measures have elicited negative criticisms from parents, teachers, churches and politicians.

Parents claim that the prayers have nothing to do with exam leaks, and that they will be unfairly denied the opportunity to be with their children before the exams since half-term in third term has also been banned.

However, despite the reservations expressed by parents and teachers, these directives will surely go a long way in sealing the loopholes that have always led to exam cheating in schools. It is apparent that exam cheating is a well-planned and elaborate scheme that involves students, parents and teachers, who all harbour their own egocentric interests. Scores of parents wish their children could get good grades that can guarantee them opportunities to join universities. This is why many invest heavily in the education of their children.

On the other hand, scores of teachers, who are promised monetary rewards by school administrators should their subjects post good grades, would stop at nothing to ensure their learners pass the exams.

Indeed, this notion of ‘motivation’ of teachers in schools has led to the escalation of the menace. Most teachers meet up with the parents during prayer and visiting days to explore ways of ‘helping their students pass.’ This is one loophole that Dr Matiangi seeks to seal with the ban on prayer days and other non-academic activities in third term. I agree with the CS that parents can as well pray for their children in their respective churches.

MAJOR LOOPHOLE

The presence of teachers and other non-candidate learners in school during exam time have also provided another major loophole for cheating.

In a bid to post ‘a good mean score,’ some teachers collude with the invigilators to sneak exam papers from the exam rooms so that they can write answers for the candidates. The answers are then sneaked back to the exam room by the same invigilators. Therefore, the move to alter the academic calendar to enable exams to be done when teachers and other students are not in school will seal help seal this loophole.

It is apparent that the menace of exam cheating continues to pose a great risk to the quality of education in the country. It undermines years of hard work and sacrifice put in by parents, teachers and students. It kills the essence of competition and creates a generation that glorifies the malignant vices of corruption and theft.

Looked at broadly, the menace is symptomatic of the dwindling quality of our education system. It is unfortunate that our education system now puts greater emphasis on grades rather than skills and knowledge.

Rote learning has taken root in schools in place of practical and logical application of skills. Learning in our schools has become a seamless endeavour to pass exams.

Indeed, employers continue to raise the red flag of graduates with little or no problem-solving skills despite testimonials and certificates with quality grades. This dire situation is largely aggravated by the culture of exam cheating. It is therefore an indisputable fact that something must be done.

Therefore, those opposed to Matiangi’s recommendations are not honest. I believe the CS means well and should be commended for his conscientious efforts to stem the vice.

Instead of casting aspersions, education stakeholders should help the CS to come up with better ways of solving the problem.