Ministry of Education Partner with Criminal Justice System to Fast-Track Examination Malpractice Cases.
The Ministry of Education is actively collaborating with the legal system to expedite the resolution of cases related to examination malpractices.
Basic Education Principal Secretary Dr. Belio Kipsang, while supervising the distribution of the 2024 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Examinations (KCSE) papers in Nyeri, emphasized that the Ministry is working closely with investigative agencies and the judiciary to ensure swift justice.
The strategy, he indicated, is intended to discourage any further attempts at exam malpractice as the KCSE enters its final week.
Dr. Kipsang stated that the Ministry is coordinating with the Criminal Justice System, including the courts, to fast-track cases involving individuals found engaging in exam-related malpractices.
The aim, he noted, is to minimize delays in delivering justice and to send a clear warning to any parties considering interfering with the integrity of the exams.
“This time, we are going to work closely with the Criminal Justice System, including our courts so that the cases involving the few people who are trying to play games with exams are fast tracked and that justice is delivered in the shortest time possible,” said the PS.
Record of Exam Cheating and Arrests
Since the KCSE exams began on October 22, 11 cases of attempted exam cheating have been recorded across Uasin Gishu, Homa Bay, and Siaya counties.
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To date, 30 individuals—including invigilators and teachers—have been apprehended and brought to court for their roles in exam-related offenses.
Dr. Kipsang reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to maintaining exam integrity and emphasized that those found guilty of malpractices will be prosecuted individually, without implicating entire institutions.
This shift to individual accountability, he explained, aligns with the approach promoted by Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba.
Enhanced Security and Individual Responsibility
To further safeguard the examination process, Dr. Kipsang highlighted that the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) has personalized each exam paper to facilitate tracking in case of any irregularities.
This approach reinforces individual responsibility, with the Ministry making it clear that they will no longer resort to canceling exams for entire schools. Instead, the accountability will rest solely on the individuals involved in any malpractice.
“Cases of malpractice are about individuals and as our Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba said, we are not going to do blanket things like cancel the whole exam of a school.
This year, a total of 20,363 candidates are sitting for the KCSE in Nyeri, distributed across 237 examination centers. Among these candidates, 10,092 are male, 10,271 are female, and there are 678 private candidates.
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The final day for the 2024 KCSE exams is set for November 22, when candidates will take the Physics Practical paper.
This proactive collaboration between the Ministry and the judicial system aims to foster a fair examination environment, deterring malpractices and ensuring accountability.
Ministry of Education Partner with Criminal Justice System to Fast-Track Examination Malpractice Cases.
