Inside Principals’ Proposals to Curb KCSE Exam Cheating.
With one month remaining until the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams, school heads have suggested strategies to prevent cheating, such as limiting mobile phone use and rotating invigilators.
The Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (Kessha) has proposed stronger security and monitoring measures during exams, as these tests often influence the promotion of school leaders.
Recommendations for Exam Integrity
The principals urged the government to jam mobile signals to prevent communication during the exams.
They also recommended rotating invigilators to minimize familiarity and prevent collusion, alongside installing CCTV cameras in exam halls to discourage malpractice.
Technological solutions, like mobile phone detectors, were also proposed. In previous years, candidates were caught using phones to cheat, as shown in the 2022 KCSE inquiry, which revealed that students utilized WhatsApp, Telegram, and Facebook for cheating purposes.
Additionally, the principals called for the restructuring of the Kenya National Examinations Council (Knec) to ensure its independence, aiming to uphold the sanctity of the national exams.
The association emphasized that an independent Knec would result in unbiased examination processes and reduce external influence.
Proposals for Invigilators and Promotion Policies
Kessha endorsed the Teachers Service Commission’s (TSC) suggestion to use secondary school teachers as KCSE exam invigilators instead of primary school teachers.
This change was justified by the fact that secondary school teachers have a better understanding of high school students and could manage them more effectively due to their regular interaction.
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The principals also believed that competition between schools would make secondary teachers more committed to preventing cheating.
The school heads recommended changes in TSC’s promotion criteria, calling for a halt to promotions based solely on exam performance.
They argued that the current system pressures teachers to engage in malpractice to improve mean scores and secure promotions. Instead, they advocated for a focus on holistic student development and for exams to be shielded from political interference.
Ethical Behavior and Cheating Consequences
Kessha emphasized the importance of proper preparation and ethical behavior in students. They suggested a continuous assessment system that would shift focus away from the final exams, promoting integrity by instilling honesty and ethical conduct.
The association also called for punitive measures, such as dismissal or imprisonment, for those found guilty of cheating.
They recommended needs-based funding for schools to ensure resources are allocated based on individual school requirements, rather than enrollment numbers, alongside adequate staffing for proper candidate preparation.
Research by the association highlighted how cheating erodes trust in the education system and devalues qualifications, with far-reaching consequences.
They noted that the 2022 KCSE exam was marred by cheating allegations, leading to the suspension and arrest of several education officials for uploading exam materials to social media during the test.
Investigations and Responses to 2022 KCSE Cheating Allegations
Kessha’s national governing council condemned the rampant exam cheating in the country, with schools showing suspicious surges in top grades.
The council, led by chairman Willy Kuria, emphasized that no school should celebrate results achieved through cheating.
They presented an example from Nyambaria High School, where 28 students scored As in 2022, compared to only four in 2021, raising questions about the credibility of the exams.
Meanwhile, former Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu dismissed these concerns, explaining that it was not unusual for schools to see significant improvements in results.
He pointed out that certain counties were being unfairly portrayed as having received undue advantages.
For instance, allegations targeted Kisii and Nyamira counties for producing an unusually high number of As, but official data showed that these counties had some of the lowest numbers of As in the Nyanza region.
Ministry Reports on Exam Cheating
The Ministry of Education reported that Siaya County had the highest number of As in the Nyanza region, with 72, followed by Kisumu with 59, while Kisii ranked second-last with 51 As.
Nyamira had the fewest, with 30 As, while Kiambu topped nationally with 226 As. Despite some cheating reports during the 2022 KCSE, the Ministry confirmed that these cases were appropriately handled, avoiding the cancellation of results.
Reported malpractices included collusion, possession of unauthorized materials, and mobile phones.
In some cases, exam supervisors opened question papers early and shared them on social media.
There were also allegations of candidates submitting identical responses, which were investigated but did not meet the threshold for result cancellations under Knec guidelines.
Preparations for Upcoming National Exams
In preparation for the upcoming KCSE, KPSEA, and KILEA exams, scheduled to start at the end of the third term, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba urged stakeholders to ensure a conducive environment for schools.
He emphasized that all efforts should be made to prepare students for these national assessments.
This year’s exams are particularly significant as the 8-4-4 system is being phased out, and the last cohort of KCPE students is now in Form 1.
Changes in Primary Education Exams
The Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) is administered in Grade 6, but the results will not determine placement in Junior Secondary School.
Instead, they will monitor students’ progress in subjects such as Mathematics, English, Integrated Science, and Kiswahili.
Performance will be categorized into four levels: exceeding, meeting, approaching, and below expectations.
Lastly, the National Parents Association chairman, Silas Obuhatsa, urged the government to ensure there are no disruptions during this critical exam period.
The association also noted an improvement in KCSE performance in 2022, with the number of students meeting the university entry requirements rising from 173,345 in 2022 to 210,133 in 2023.
Inside Principals’ Proposals to Curb KCSE Exam Cheating.
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