Nairobi, KENYA: A total of 110 people, including candidates, who are alleged to have attempted cheating during the just concluded KCSE examinations were arrested and four other students deregistered for impersonation.
Speaking during the last day of monitoring Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education KCSE exams in Nairobi, Education cabinet secretary Amb. Amina Muhammed said that in addition, at least 10 board of management teachers in four schools were arrested and arraigned in court in connection with various cases of examination malpractices.
“Officials in charge of 10 centres were relieved of their various duties as centre managers for allowing the transportation of examination materials in private vehicles contrary to the requirement that only government transportation be used for the purpose. Others were replaced as center Managers for allowing unauthorized persons into the school compound during the examination period,” Said Amina
She added that a total of 101 cell phones that were confiscated from teachers, candidates and school staff are with security agencies as investigations continue into attempts to use the gadgets to relay information into examination rooms.
“In the 222 schools that were put under high surveillance based on the previous history of malpractices, examinations went on unhindered in 220 of these centres. Minimal malpractices were detected in two of the centres, with the alert monitors taking remedial action that prevented any full blown collusion or examination contamination at the centres,” She added.
The CS, however, indicated that the successful completion of the examination process would not have been possible without the combined vigilance of the ministries of Education, Interior, ICT, contracted professionals and surveillance monitors.
The Ministry hopes to build on the gains made and lessons learnt during the 2018 KCPE and KCSE examinations administration to improve the process and systems next year.
