Strategies to Curb Cheating in National Exams
National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Education has started public hearings on the alleged Cheating in the 2022 KCSE exams, forcing the KNEC body to put in place strategies to curb cheating in national exams.
During the first session, stakeholders told the committee how different parties contributed to exam malpractice and cheating last year.
Among them KNEC and TSC were they main parties involved.
In a memorandum to the committee, Manyara KESSHA chair Nakuru County accused KNEC of not doing enough to protect examination materials prior to their due date.
As a result the body has decided that the picking of examination papers from the container will be done twice a day. The first paper will be picked at 7 :30am after it has been done center managers will take it back and collect the second paper for the day.
Manyara called on KNEC to minimize the number of people accessing exam materials and introduce security features that would help trace the origin of the leaked materials.
TSC on their part have pegged promotion of teachers on candidates’ performance. This have put pressure on teachers and in order to benefit themselves they have helped Learners to access leaked materials. This contributes to cheating for their own benefit.
Manyara revealed that TSC has sent show cause letters to school heads on some occasions when schools fail to post impressive performance hence Principals may resort to measures that will help their schools exel.
Francis Mugo, a teacher, said that individual universities should have their own entrance exams and not depend on KCSE to determine which applicants qualify to for a specific course.
Mr. Mugo added that the Ministry of Education should stop categorization of Schools. This has led to discrimination and put pressure on principals to save the face of their institutions thus bending their integrity. Teachers in national schools are also pressured to ensure 100% transition to university.
Mirriam Ngima, an elder, noted that teachers have also been largely involved in exam malpractices by interfering with the registration process of candidates at various centres.
KNEC should put stringent measures in place to safeguard the examination materials. During the briefing for this year’s national exams KNEC will highlight more Strategies in place to Curb Cheating in National Exams.
