Exam Malpractices: Education CS Ogamba Advocates for Swift Trials through Special Courts.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has issued a stern warning to individuals and groups intending to engage in cheating during the ongoing Form Four national exams, emphasizing that violators will face prosecution.
Ogamba expressed that cheating in national examinations constitutes a serious crime and appealed to Kenyans to support the government’s anti-cheating efforts.
During a weekend tour of Kisii and Nyamira counties, his first since taking office, Ogamba highlighted that teachers caught in cheating schemes would face severe consequences, including blacklisting.
He outlined a collaboration with the criminal justice system aimed at establishing special courts specifically for handling exam-related offenses. These courts are expected to expedite cases, with judgments on exam malpractices anticipated within three months.
“My ministry will work closely with the criminal justice system, to create special courts, which will handle specific cases relating to national examination cheating. ” He said.
Promoting Fair Education Standards
Ogamba called for a fair environment, allowing students to independently take their Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education exams, which commenced on October 22.
He advised that every student has a place in society, regardless of the grades attained. Emphasizing the development of well-rounded individuals, he noted that the criteria for promoting head teachers would shift from exam results to include broader aspects of school management.
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To ensure smooth exam proceedings, Ogamba reported that multi-agency teams have been deployed.
“We have requested to have special court sittings so that cases of exam malpractices are heard and determined within three months,” Mr Ogamba said.
He also urged education stakeholders to support government initiatives for the benefit of the nation, stressing that compromising the education sector could jeopardize the country’s future.
Commitment to the Competency-Based Curriculum
The CS reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the success of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), citing ongoing projects like classroom construction in primary schools to prepare for Grade 9 students next year.
With support from the World Bank, 3,500 classrooms have been completed, with an additional 7,500 underway, while another 5,000 classrooms will be built with assistance from the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NGCDF).
The government has decentralized the construction process to standardize costs and quality across schools.
Ogamba encouraged head teachers to utilize allocated resources effectively, aiming to enhance the learning environment, which could incentivize further government funding.
Additionally, textbooks for Grade 9 learners are being distributed, and head teachers have been instructed to report inventory gaps to the ministry.
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Capitation funds have also been dispatched for schools to produce desks, and the CS advised head teachers to collaborate with Boards of Management to maximize resource use.
Locating Junior Secondary Schools in Primary Institutions
In response to public preference, Ogamba confirmed that Junior Secondary School (JSS) learners would remain in primary schools, as opposed to moving them to existing secondary institutions.
He referenced a presidential working party survey showing that 93% of Kenyans supported housing JSS in primary schools, underlining the government’s commitment to respecting public opinion.
Exam Malpractices: Education CS Ogamba Advocates for Swift Trials through Special Courts
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