Education Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed has issued a set of new guidelines to be observed whenever national examinations are being held in a bid to end leaks. The Education boss announced the new measures on Thursday after releasing, inspecting and monitoring Kenya Certificate of Secondary Examination papers at an examination centre in Lang’ata, Nairobi.
While pointing out that no examination paper has leaked out so far even though several people have been charged with exam malpractice, Ms Mohamed said the new measures will seal loopholes exploited by masterminds behind examination leaks. “Failure to adhere to these guidelines and many other broad ones that have been already issued earlier on will lead to severe punishment,” the Ms Mohamed said.
NEW MEASURES
All examination officials have also been cautioned against going for breaks, including for tea, when the examinations are underway. Exam centre managers in schools have been ordered not to allow any unauthorised teachers or persons to hang around school compounds when the exams are going on. As for security officers, they have been ordered to ensure that exam papers not yet done are continuously closely guarded and not left in an unattended room. Ms Mohamed said the new measures, if adhered to, are guaranteed to end exam irregularities.
ARRESTED SUSPECTS
The CS confirmed that all exam papers have been delivered to all exam centres with Kenya National Examination Council features. She also pointed out that all suspects arrested in connection with cheating or leaking of the national examinations will face the full force of law. So far, the CS said that 15 people have been arrested and arraigned for allegedly opening the second paper prematurely in Kisii. They allegedly photocopied and planned to write exams then sneak answers to candidates.
Four others have been arrested in Kakamega with prepared notes which the CS termed as fake while two other suspects have been taken into custody in an undisclosed location. The duo, she said, are suspected masterminds of an exam cheating and leaking syndicate and were arrested on Wednesday after a manhunt for them was launched.