DCI: Recommendations To Curb 2023 Exam Cheating
To stop cheating on national exams, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations has issued a number of recommendations to the Departmental Committee on Education of the National Assembly.
As part of its investigations into claims of exam fraud in the 2022 KCSE exams, the Parliamentary Committee on Education hired DCI.
DCI advised the education committee that anybody found guilty of exam cheating should face severe consequences.
“Examination con artists will prey on guardians, parents, and proprietors of private schools. According to DCI, it might also lead to a situation where some students have an advantage over others since they have access to the exam papers.
DCI found 47 mobile phones, 12 unauthorized test materials like writing tissue, one impersonation instance, and other irregularities in the 2022 KCSE exam after those irregularities were reported.
The Parliamentary Committee’s investigations revealed that exam malpractices in the 2022 KSCE included, among other things, conspiracy to exchange answers, the use of mobile phones in exam rooms, impersonation, smuggling of illegal written materials, leakage, and plagiarism.
The committee’s head, MP Julius Melly, presented the findings to the legislature on Wednesday.
DCI asked the committee to take into account passing laws that would permit the use of biometrics mandatory to prevent impersonation.
It further mentioned that 44 cases of test fraud in the 2022 KCSE are still being investigated, 17 are currently being litigated in court, and only six have been adjudicated.
According to DCI, the National Assembly should think about recommending time frames for court cases involving exam fraud and misconduct.
“This will help reduce the long periods cases take before they are concluded as is the case with the presidential election petitions,” the DCI suggested.
It also recommended that while assigning work, the diversity of populations at exam marking centers be taken into account.
The security agency additionally requests that “examination officers found involved in exam cheating and malpractices to be severely punished including being discharged from their jobs.”
DCI adds that schools should be encouraged to purchase CCTV equipment, particularly for use in exam rooms.
DCI advised the committee that “Knec should improve on the invigilation and supervision of examinations.”
According to the security department, Knec should have sufficient numbers of invigilators and supervisors who are well-trained to manage the exams and prevent cheating.
According to DCI, moral values like honesty should be emphasized and instilled from early education all the way through higher education.
The credibility of national exams may also be threatened by technological advancements, according to DCI.
The integrity of the national examinations is likely to be jeopardized if technology is not reined in, according to the security organization, and as a result, the certifications won’t be recognized.
DCI: Recommendations To Curb 2023 Exam Cheating
