Marking of KCSE to start on Monday

The Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination ends today, with marking of the scripts expected to commence on Monday.

Some 831,026 candidates sat the examination in over 10,000 centres. Although the Ministry of Education says no paper leaked, there were a number of cheating attempts.

Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha said all papers were delivered to examination centres with the unique Kenya National Examinations Council security features intact.

“No paper leaked since the start of the exams; true to our promise. We managed to strictly comply with the schedule of distributing exam materials from containers to all the centres,” he assured.

Early exposure

But he admitted there were cases of early exposure, adding that a few people opened exam packages a few minutes to start-time.

“There was a tendency to use mobile phones to take photographs of exam questions before sneaking them out of exam centres to waiting, hired people who would tackle the questions and attempt to smuggle the answers back to the candidates,” he explained.

This made the Ministry ban cell phones in each station, with only two allowed — one for the centre manager and the another for the security officer for emergency purposes.

Over 60 mobile phones were seized in the exam  period. Magoha said a combined team of Directorate of Criminal Investigations sleuths and Ministry officials exposed the racked and arrested the masterminds.

During the exams, the CS warned of dire action to teachers and candidates caught trying to compromise the exercise. He said the measures put in place to quash cheating were accepted universally. 

“I thank the stakeholders, who include security agencies and multi-agency teams, for ensuring the exam remained sacrosanct in the containers,” the CS said last week.

He warned there would be a high price to pay for those involved in early exposure of the papers and smuggling of phones into exam rooms. “We are not going to have mercy on you,” the CS said. 

“Politicians can say whatever they want but we are going to ensure that justice for the child is done …  that every child gets equal chances. We are aware this is a time of political transition but we are not politicians. We are working for the wellbeing of our children,” he added.

Other measures to curb cheating included security officers sitting in full view of materials for the second daily paper while the morning one was in progress. No unauthorised teachers or staff were to be in the precincts. Only tutors handling practical subjects were allowed inside on  the days the subjects were taken.

Supervisors and invigilators were barred from taking time off for any other activity while the exam was in progress.

Utmost professionalism

Meanwhile, University Education and Research Principal Secretary Simon Nabukwesi has confirmed that all is set for marking of KCSE scripts.

Speaking in Nakuru yesterday while opening an examination container, Nabukwesi urged examiners to exercise utmost professionalism.

He said KNEC and the Ministry were conducting moderation of examiners to ensure they are ready for the exercise. “Do the right thing and ensure all candidates get their genuine results,” he said.

Some 27 institutions have been selected for the exercise.

Nabukwesi told the students to remain focused while at home, noting that completion of the exam is not the end of  education. Nabukwesi advised them to engage in progressive activities, saying those who will  qualify to join university will do so in July while “technical colleges will open in September”. 

There are three more national papers that KNEC will administer this year, namely the 2022 KCPE and KCSE exams as well as tests for Grade Six.

“Just like you (cheats) are punishing us this time, we shall be happy to punish you at judgement time. I’m sure there are others who are attempting to breach the integrity of exams. Just know you will not go through politicians to come and tell us (excuses). Our ears are already blocked. We are just looking for justice,” he affirmed.