Cabinet Secretary for Education Prof George Magoha has reassured KCSE candidates as well as their parents and guardians that the government has already set measures to ensure candidates’ smooth travel back home.
This reassurance includes the zones areas where there has been a cessation of movement to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
While giving updates on the progress of the ongoing KCSE examination at the Kenya High School on Wednesday, CS Magoha said that the 2020 KCSE examination has progressed well so far across the country.
Heavy rains throughout the country have not curtailed the ongoing KCSE examinations. The CS said that the Kenya National Examinations Council has delivered all examination papers to all centers and this has led to the smooth conduction of the national examinations.
“As we head towards the tail-end of the KCSE examination, I wish to urge all officials working under the Multi-Agency Examination Monitoring Team to not let their legs off the pedal until the exercise is fully completed by the 752,891 registered candidates.
“This will help us to maintain integrity of the national examinations as we have done over the last five years.
“As I informed the country two weeks ago, we have been battling a few cases of early exposure of some papers during this examination,” said CS Magoha.
However, the CS did reveal that the Ministry has arrested 11 examination officials including center managers, supervisors, and invigilators for trying to expose KCSE examination papers.
“Although we have been decisive and ruthless in pursuing the masterminds of these unethical practices, we regrettably note that some of them are determined to go to any lengths in a bid to expose the contents of the examination papers once they are released in the morning to schools after 6 am. This morning, for example, we are pursuing examination officials who exposed the contents of Agriculture Paper 1 to some candidates. Firm action will be taken against the perpetrators,” added Prof George Magoha.
The CS also assured Kenyans that the repeated attempts to access the examinations have not interfered with the credibility of the examinations. According to the CS, the exposed examination papers or questions were never accessed by the candidates.
“We warn anyone intending to compromise the integrity of the examinations that tough action will be meted out to them,” warned CS Magoha.
The CS also said that the remaining examination materials will be secured against any attempts to access the papers.
CS Magoha thanked all stakeholders and examination monitors who have serviced the ministry of information concerning any suspected malpractices to the Kenya National Examinations Council via the toll-free numbers 0800-724-900 and 0800-721410.
CS Magoha had earlier on the 14th of April 2020 issued the statement below on the progress of the KCSE national examination.
PROGRESS OF THE 2020 KCSE NATIONAL EXAMINATION
The 2020 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) Examination, now on its 12th Day, has progressed excellency well countrywide.
Despite the heavy rains pounding some parts of the country, the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has delivered all examination papers to all centres leading to a smooth exercise.
Although the first batch of candidates cleared sitting all their papers on April 12, 2021, other will continue sitting their remaining examination papers until the last day, Wednesday, April 21, 2021.
I wish to assure all parents that the Ministry has already put in place measures to ensure a smooth travel of all candidates to all their home counties, including those entering, leaving or passing through the five counties of Nairobi, Nakuru, Kiambu.
Machakos and Kajiado that have been put under travel restrictions as part of the measures to curb the spread of COVID-19.
As we head towards the tail-end of the KCSE examinations, I wish to implore on all officials working under the Multi-Agency Examinations Monitoring Team to not let their legs off the pedal until the exercise is fully completed by all 752,891 registered candidates.
This will help us maintain the integrity of the national examinations, as we have done over the last five years.
As I informed the country two weeks ago, we have been battling with a few cases of early exposure of some papers during this examination.
Although we have been decisive and ruthless in our pursuit of the masterminds of these unethical practice, we regrettably note that some of them are determined to go to any lengths in a bid to expose the contents of the examination papers once they are released in the morning to schools after 6 am.
This morning, for example, we are pursuing examination officials who exposed the contents of the Agriculture Paper 1 to some candidates. Firm action will be taken against the perpetrators.
Over the last week, using our impermeable security features of the examinations, 11 examination officials including centre managers, supervisors and invigilators have been arrested over attempts to expose some of the KCSE examination papers as follows:
S/No | Individual Or Name of Centre | Sub County | County | Officials Arrested |
1. | John Mbadi | Suba | Homa Bay | Centre Manager & Supervisor |
2. | Adega Mixed | Rachuonyo | Homa Bay | Centre Manager |
3. | El-Hagarsu Mixed | Mandera Central | Mandera | Centre Manager |
4. | Kerongori Mixed | Kenyenya | Kisii | Centre Manager & Two |
5. | Huda Seconda | Faf | Garissa | Centre Manager |
6. | Moro Secondary | Nyakach | Kisumu | Centre Manager |
I wish to assure the country that these attempts to access the examinations have not interfered with the credibility of the examinations as the exposed questions were never accessed by the candidates. We warn anyone who intends to compromised the integrity of the examinations that tough action will be meted out to them.
All the remaining examination materials will remain safely kept to ensure the sanctity of the ongoing examinations.
We thank all the stakeholders and examination monitors who have kept sending in tips of any suspected malpractices to the Kenya National Examinations Council through the Toll Free Numbers are:
0800-724-900 and 0800-721410
PROF GEORGE MAGOHA, EGH
CABINET SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF EDUCATION