It’s ‘spotless start’ for Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education exams

KCSE candidates at Lions High School in Kisumu sit their English Paper 1, on Tuesday. [PHOTO: TITUS MUNALA/STANDARD]

By AUGUSTINE ODUOR

NAIROBI, KENYA: This year’s Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education examinations started with no major hitches reported as at on Tuesday afternoon.

The Kenya National Examinations Council Director of Examinations Eda Muiruri said reports reaching her desk pointed at a ‘spotless start’ of the exams.

She, however, said the council intervened in various schools where some students were almost barred from writing the exam.

“There were a few schools that wanted to prevent some students from writing exams but we intervened because we had to protect the interest of the child,” she said, adding that some schools attempted to pin down certain candidates for failing to attend school for days.

“We had such a case in Murang’a but we solved it,” she said.

A spot check by Education indicated almost all the schools visited started the exams between 8am to 8.30am.

Embu Teachers Service Commission County Director of Education Lillian Mwangi said exam administration in the region kicked off well.

Cheating

“By 7am all supervisors were at their respective distribution centres. All centres had begun exams by 8.30am,” she told The Standard.

She said TSC, Knec and ministry staff will be monitoring the admistration of the exams daily to ensure full compliance with set laws.

“We aim to ensure exams are written in full regard of the Knec Act and that acts of irregularities are minimised to the least levels,” she said.

The Act spells out stringent and punitive actions for persons involved in any form of irregularity with a fine of up to Sh2 million.

For the last three years, the number of persons involved in cheating has continued to reduce.

However, the number of persons arrested in connection to exam malpractice has continued to rise.

Last year, 88 persons were arrested and charged in court with cheating-related offences. Knec chief executive Paul Wasanga attributed this to strict law — the Knec Act.

In 2011, the number of persons arrested was 15 compared to six in 2010.

More than 440,000 students are seating this year’s KCSE in 7,606 centres. The exam is slated to end on November 15.

Kakamega County Director Janet Onyango said no hitches were reported at the start of the exams yesterday. “I visited several schools across the county and I am pleased to note it al started well.”

She added that the only common challenge was the random index numbers but that was resolved in time.

In Siaya, TSC County Director Nerreah Olick said all schools received exam materials in time. “The schools I visited started exams in time with no hitches.”

She said the ministry and Knec staff are working closely to ensure all is well. “We are working as a team and we want to assure students they will be provided with the best environment for exam.”