Parents, teachers warned against aiding exam cheating

Board members and stakeholders of Kyeni Girls’ High School cut a cake to celebrate the school’s Golden Jubilee Anniversary on September 26, 2015. Parents were warned against assisting their children to cheat in national examinations. [PHOTO/JOSEPH MUCHIRI/STANDARD]

Parents and teachers have been warned against assisting children to cheat in national examinations in the misinformed belief that good performance automatically translates to a successful life.

Educationist Kithinji Kiragu said doing so creates a mentality in children that it is necessary to cheat in every aspect of life to achieve a certain milestone such as getting a job or promotion.

Mr Kiragu, the Chairman Embu College, said pressuring children to post high grades at all costs does more harm than good to learners and the society.

Speaking at Kyeni Girls' High School in Embu County when the school marked its 50th anniversary on Saturday, Kiragu called on parents and teachers to join hands with the national examiner to fight the cheating in national examinations.

"You will not help a child to succeed in life when you assist them to dishonestly score top grades by buying them exam leakages. That only marks the beginning of ruining their lives.

"There are examples of children who cheated in KCSE but failed at university or performed dismally in their jobs so they neither helped the country nor their families," he said.

Kiragu said even if a children score a mean grade D or E in KCSE as per their ability but are of good conduct, they might end up being successful in life.

He also called for efforts to improve the welfare of the boy-child who he said suffered from low self-esteem as the society seems more interested in empowering girls. "Girls get a chance to interact frequently with their mothers in serious family and community matters thus acquire confidence and wisdom which propels them to outsmart boys in many things," he said.

Principal Damaris Mwea said besides striving for academic excellence, the school exposes students to a wide array of co-curriculum activities. There has been no strike in the school since 1965.