Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha has warned of tougher times for cheats during this year’s national examinations.
Prof Magoha hinted to secondary school principals that the examination cheating cartels are regrouping with the thought that he is no longer the chairman of the Kenya National Examinations Council (Knec).
Speaking at a closed-door meeting of 200 top officials of the Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (Kessha) this week, Magoha said there will be no letup in enforcing examination credibility.
He said the ministry has closed doors on all cheats, in a move meant to prevent early examination exposures and other malpractices.
“I only request heads to ensure syllabus is covered and completed,” Magoha said.
The CS cautioned teachers against over relying on revision questions saying the examinations will cover entire syllabus.
Some 1.7 million students have been registered to sit this year’s Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) and Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE).
Kenya National Examination Council (Knec) data shows that some 1,089,671 candidates were registered to sit Standard Eight examinations in 28,291 centres across the country.
Another 698,935 were registered to sit Fourth Form national examinations across 10,304 centres.
Knec chairman John Onsati said the council has noted instances where some school heads fail to follow instructions.
“We have had a few cases where in the process of instructions being given, some individuals do not listen. They assume that we will not be keen and we must remind you that we shall not compromise,” Dr Onsati said.
He said schools heads will still wake up to pick examinations at the safe containers and return the same after the process is over.
“We want to assure you that nothing will be changed. In fact, we will improve on what has been the practice. We really do not have much choice. Examinations must be done and done well,” Onsati said.
He warned against parents, teachers and students who attempt to mess up the process.