Education CS Amina issues new tough measures against exam leakage

Education CS Amina Mohammed addressing media after she supervised distribution of examination materials in Murang’a East and South sub counties. [Boniface Gikandi/Standard]

Six people accused of being the masterminds behind exam leakages in the last four days have been arrested in Kisii and Kakamega counties.

The six are in the custody of Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) and security officials. Two of them were arrested on Wednesday evening and will be arraigned in court today.

Education Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed said as she sent warning shots to individuals who have over the last three years devised new criminal techniques of opening examination packages few minutes before start time.

“Usually their target is the second paper of the day. They then take the leaked papers to hired goons who fill in the questions then smuggle the answer sheets back to the examination room,” she said.

Amina has directed exam officials to abide with all examination guidelines adding that they have noted a few mishaps during the four-day examination process.

Among them is that all school gates must be kept wide open throughout the day’s exams to allow ease of monitoring. Security officers must also sit in strategic positions so as to have a full view of the examination materials.

Third, examination officials may not take any time off from the rooms for extra curricular other ctivities while exams are in progress and centre managers must not allow any unauthorised teachers or staff including secretaries and clerks to hang around the school compound during the exam period.

The CS confirmed that all exam papers have been delivered to all exam centres with Kenya National Examination Council features.

KCSE exams began on Monday amid tight security. A total of 663,820 candidtates are sitting this year’s examinations.