Principals and security officers Only to have phones in a center in new directive to curb cheating says Magoha
Education CS Professor George Magoha has said that only two phones will be allowed in exam centers across the country.
The CS said that only the center manager conducting the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exam and a security officer would be allowed to access the centers with their mobile phones.
The direction comes in the wake of alleged cases of teachers using mobile phones to send photographs of examination papers after the commencement of examinations.
Speaking at Kiambu’s Muhoho High School over the weekend, Prof Magoha said anyone violating the directive would be arrested and prosecuted.
“Our main headache is the use of mobile phones. From Monday anyone caught with the phone except the two will have their phones confiscated till the completion of the exam,” he said.
Prof Magoha continued: “Our team of investigators is on the ground and will effect measures accordingly.” The CS spoke on an inspection tour of the school to oversee the construction of new CBC classrooms.
Prof Magoha said that after the commencement of the examination, many teachers who were caught sending photographs of examination papers are certain to be arrested.
We caught around 20 teachers and confiscated 60 cell phones in one centre. The cheating in the exam is taking place after the container is opened and when the candidates are in their examination hall i.e. cell phone must have been used.
Even when the DCI announced the arrest of the three suspects, Prof Magoha said that all the papers were delivered to the examination centers with all Kenya National Council of Examinations security features and maintains that there is no leakage.
Prof Magoha said that pictures of the test papers are sent to a group of hired people who deal with the questions and send back the answers given to the candidates.
Prof Magoha said that despite sealing the loopholes that could lead to exams leaking, in the last five years some people are opening the exam packages a few minutes before the scheduled time.
