KCSE results to be out by May 10, says Magoha

The Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination results will be released by May 10, Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha has said.

Prof Magoha at the same time said the government scholarship programme will strictly benefit needy students who sat the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education exam last month.

He was speaking yesterday at Nairobi School yesterday when he oversaw the completion of the Form Four exam.

The CS, who also launched the marking of the exams, said it will be a meticulous process conducted by experienced examiners.

“We should be able to open schools by May 10 so we have between now and then to complete the marking,” said the CS.

Even as he insisted that none of the papers were leaked, the CS said the Ministry will be presenting the list of teachers believed to have committed exam irregularities to the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) for action.

Some 27 officials were sacked as centre managers, supervisors or invigilators over allegations of violating exam regulations.

Magoha said early exposure of exam papers remained a serious problem.

He, however, said all the efforts were stopped, with the latest leading to the arrest of the Principal of a school in Trans Nzoia.

“The name of the Principal should be quickly be given to TSC to do the needful … even if you take us to court you will do so from outside,” the CS said.

Magoha said the Ministry, in collaboration with his Interior and ICT counterparts Fred Matiang’i and Joe Mucheru, will go back to the drawing board to ensure the exam system is tightened.

“When the system becomes too familiar, it attracts rats,” he said.

He added that candidates had devised new ways of cheating in exams.

A total of 37 civilians, including three university students and two businessmen, were arrested for attempting to engage or assist in exam irregularities. Some 53 cell phones were also confiscated from candidates in exam rooms.

On the government scholarships, the CS said only deserving cases will be considered.

The Ministry launched the application process, with Magoha urging the 2020 KCPE candidates wishing to be considered for the Elimu Scholarship Programme to apply online.

“All children are the same and the gold standard is the poorest child that we are serving – like the one who was denied access to Composition exam in Kitui,” the CS said.

“We have ensured that we have seen the record of that child’s performance in English composition over the years and he has been graded.

I will personally look for the child, have him be admitted in a boarding school and we will find a scholarship for him because of the injustice caused on the child,” said the CS.