As the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations commenced nationwide on Monday, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba issued a clear and strong warning to anyone considering compromising the integrity of this crucial process. This year, an impressive 965,501 candidates are registered to take part in the KCSE tests, spread across 10,754 examination centers throughout the country. CS Ogamba emphasized that any instances of exam malpractice will be met with severe repercussions.
“Whether it is a student, teacher, parent, or government official, anyone caught engaging in misconduct related to examinations will be arrested and prosecuted,”
In addition to this firm stance against cheating, the Cabinet Secretary highlighted the ongoing efforts to monitor social media platforms closely. Authorities are actively addressing claims made by various sites that assert they have access to examination materials. Ogamba reassured the public that all exam papers are securely stored, dismissing rampant rumors about potential leaks.While subjects like Home Science and Computer Science were evaluated in the previous week, Monday marked the official beginning of the national examination period, with candidates first facing assessments in English and Chemistry.
This year’s examinations are governed by new regulations, which require supervisors to rotate among different centers weekly to enhance oversight and integrity.Examination containers are set to be opened at 7 a.m. each day across the nation, strictly supervised to prevent any premature access to the exam materials. In a further effort to maintain the exams’ integrity, CS Ogamba announced that examination officials will not be allowed to possess mobile phones during the testing period. Instead, they must hand them over to the supervising officer, who will securely store them until the conclusion of the exams.
Special arrangements have also been made for candidates in areas facing security challenges. For instance, in Tana River, students were relocated to safe venues like GSU camps to ensure their safety during the exams. Those affected by flooding have also received necessary support to facilitate their participation in this important educational milestone.
As the KCSE exams unfold, the commitment to maintaining their integrity remains paramount. Every effort is being made to ensure that the process remains fair and secure for all candidates involved.
