Centres that cheat in exams to be closed

Education Principal Secretary Bellio Kipsang has warned that the national exams will be suspended in centres where cases of early exposure to materials will be reported.

Dr Kipsang said the government will not allow candidates in such centres to continue with the exams.

“(It) will no longer be an examination centre in case cheating is detected but a scene of crime and police will have to handle the situation,” said the PS when he toured an examination storage container at Langata sub-county headquarters, Nairobi.

Dr Kipsang, who was accompanied by Kenya National Examinations Council (Knec) chairman George Magoha and acting chief executive Mercy Karogo, said the government was determined to end cheating in national examinations.

He said earlier exposure of exam materials will benefit all candidates and therefore the centre will have to pay the price.

Prof Magoha said the council was aware of parents contributing money towards buying examination materials, adding that the materials they plan to buy are fake.

He said that some principals had refused to collect money from parents for the purpose of buying examination materials

Prof Magoha identified six counties where cheating in national exams has been planned by principals and other stakeholders.

“The council has confirmed that some schools are still conducting prayers and other visiting days during Third Term contrary to the Ministry of Education guidelines,” said Prof Magoha while briefing journalists on the progress of exams preparedness.

He went on: “In some cases, including a few centres in Kisii and Garissa counties, principals are collecting money from parents during prayers under an impossible promise that they will access exam papers prior to the date of the actual exams.”

He said some schools were allowing candidates access to fake exam papers.