The Ministry of Education has noticed movements of possible national examinations cheating in Rongo, Kisii and Homa Bay warning that the government is on their radar.
The Education Cabinet Secretary (CS), Prof. George Magoha said they have suspected a movement of teachers collecting money from parents promising access to examination papers by next week.
Speaking during a pre-monitoring of National exams and classroom observation of delivery of Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) at Joy Town Primary School in Thika town on Friday, the CS told parents not to fall prey to these cons and advised candidates not to be cheated into looking into these fake papers.
“We have got some information that some teachers want to destroy students by pretending to sell them fake papers. The cartel is in Rongo in Nyanza region, which then spreads to Kisii, Kuria and Homa Bay. We are watching you. Let no one be cheated that the exam will
leak,” he said.
He said examination security issues will be tighter this year to safeguard the integrity of the national examinations; among them being enhanced security within the exam rooms and schools.
The CS said security officers will cover up to two kilometres away from the school to prevent movement by those trying to bring marked examination papers to students.
He said some crooked teachers have found a way of creating command centres on how to access the papers during morning hours before kick-off, mark them speedily and deliver to exam rooms.
In most cases and due to hurry to meet deadlines, he said, they mark the wrong answers.
“In Nyanza region for example, some stupid teachers take the exam papers in the boats, and because of the short time to deliver the marked papers to exams rooms, they answer speedily and fail all the questions. Students, even the bright ones copy the answers and fail. Parents and school heads should resist these attempts,” he said.
On the CBC grading, the CS said the assessment of Grade 3 pupils will continue throughout the term to establish the various competencies of pupils contrary to reports that the assessment will be done next week.
Prof. Magoha said in most of the schools visited, the Programme was going on well, and all pupils will proceed to the next grade.
He was accompanied by the Kenya National Examinations Council Chair, John Onsati and other national and county education officials.
By Muoki Charles
