Focus on these areas to reduce cases of exam cheating

A week ago, this newspaper published the opinions of two people (an adult residing in Kakamega and a student at Lugulu Girls High School in Bungoma County) on whether stealing examinations should be made a capital offence. The adult gave a nod while the students’ response was an emphatic no. However, going through the arguments of the duo, you come across two related but divergent positions. The adult brought out the effects that cheating visits on society whereas the student shed light on some of the underlying causes of the cheating. Combined, the two views agreed on the negativity of the malpractice.

Cheating in examinations is an abhorrent practice. Its effects on society are colossal. Besides, it’s immoral and criminal. Luckily, the leadership at the Ministry of Education is rock-solid against it. I have followed keenly the developments in exam management this season. The government, through the multi-ministerial team has been quite pro-active. It has, to say the least, stopped the cheats in their tracks. This is what can guarantee the credibility of the exams. We have to keep pace with the cheats and as much as possible, nip their nefarious acts in the bud.