Education PS Blames Parents and Exam Officials for KCSE Malpractices.
Education Permanent Secretary (PS) Belio Kipsang has identified parents and exam officials as key contributors to the rising cases of malpractice in the ongoing Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams.
Addressing concerns in Nyeri on Thursday, where he oversaw the opening of a national examination storage facility, Kipsang expressed dismay at the role parents play in enabling students to breach exam regulations.
He stated that parents often permit students to carry mobile phones to school, a prohibited item in examination rooms.
Kipsang emphasized that the primary issue undermining the integrity of the KCSE exams lies with adults, especially parents.
He explained that when instances of resource mobilization to bribe exam officials are reported, it is often parents who initiate the efforts rather than the officials themselves.
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He questioned why parents, who have supported their children’s education for four years, would now sponsor actions to compromise exam integrity.
“The biggest problem in our examinations are we adults, the parents in most cases, because when we hear people saying there’s mobilisation of resources to compromise our staff the people who are mobilizing the resources are not our staff, it is we as parents,” the PS said.
Incidents of Cheating and Arrests
Over the past week, numerous cheating cases have emerged from various counties. At least 11 incidents have been reported, indicating widespread efforts to breach examination standards.
Security officials have stepped in, and several individuals, mostly adults, have been apprehended.
Investigations are ongoing to assess the scale of malpractice and identify those involved. Authorities are working diligently to protect the exams’ credibility as KCSE tests progress.
PS Kipsang also highlighted a recent trend where fraudsters exploit parents’ desperation for success. Many parents have reportedly been misled into paying more than Ksh10,000 to fraudsters claiming to possess leaked examination papers.
This phenomenon has exacerbated exam integrity challenges and added financial burdens on affected families.
The PS further reported a concerning rise in the number of female students taking their exams in hospitals due to teenage pregnancies. He expressed that this trend puts added strain on families and underscores the need for parents, particularly those raising daughters, to provide additional support and guidance.
To address these social challenges, Kipsang called upon both teachers and parents to actively counsel students. Such guidance, he believes, would help students remain focused and reduce incidents of exam-related malpractices.
Commitment to Justice
The Ministry of Education has reinforced its commitment to holding offenders accountable. Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos assured Kenyans on Wednesday that all individuals involved in these malpractices would be prosecuted.
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Migos affirmed that ongoing investigations would uncover the extent of malpractice cartels, ensuring that offenders face strict legal consequences. He shared these remarks while inspecting exam centers in Kiambu County.
The KCSE exams are set to conclude on November 22, with the government intensifying its efforts to safeguard the process amid the growing challenges.
Education PS Blames Parents and Exam Officials for KCSE Malpractices
