Ten Teachers Hit with Ksh.2M Bond for KCSE Exam Malpractice.
In a case of alleged exam malpractice, ten teachers from Pala Masogo Secondary School in Homa Bay County faced court on Wednesday.
The educators, including the school’s center manager, were each issued a Ksh.2 million bond with an option of Ksh.1 million cash bail due to charges related to irregularities in the ongoing Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams.
The teachers appeared before Homa Bay Senior Resident Magistrate Christine Auka, where they denied all three counts of examination malpractice filed against them.
During the session, Magistrate Auka directed that a summons be issued to the investigating officer to clarify issues concerning the timing of the arrests as raised by the defense.
The case was scheduled for mention on November 20, 2024, to facilitate pretrial preparations.
“It is so directed that summons be issued to the investigating officer to address the matters raised by the defence on when the accused persons were arrested, and we have consented that the matter be mentioned on 20th November 2024 for purposes of setting up a pretrial,” said Magistrate Auka.
Join Teachers Updates on Facebook
Reports indicated that the accused teachers were caught photocopying the 2024 KCSE Chemistry paper, leading to their arrest. This incident on the third day of the national exams reflects broader concerns over exam integrity.
Multi-Agency Approach in Exam Supervision
James Ekalio, the Busia County Director of Education (CDE), assured that stringent measures have been put in place to prevent any exam malpractice as the county’s administration has deployed a multi-agency team to oversee the national exams.
Ekalio highlighted that this team includes personnel from the County Commissioner’s office, security departments, and education officials, all collaborating to eliminate any potential for exam leakage.
In a briefing at Amagoro during the morning exams, Ekalio emphasized the county’s adherence to strict guidelines governing phone usage and limiting the number of people allowed in school premises during the exam period.
He stressed that this multi-agency supervision aims to provide minimal opportunities for cheating, with every team member working to uphold exam integrity.
Preparedness Across 167 Exam Centers in Busia County
Busia County has readied 167 exam centers, accommodating approximately 20,000 candidates taking the national exams. The CDE confirmed that these centers have implemented adequate provisions to ensure fairness for all students.
Of the total candidates, there are 10,066 girls and 9,608 boys, marking a positive shift for female representation in the exams. The private category includes 173 boys and 153 girls, showing diverse participation across educational sectors.
The CDE personally supervised the opening of the exam materials container for Teso North Sub County, which includes 3,157 students—1,577 boys and 1,580 girls—from 31 centers.
The exams commenced with students sitting for English Paper One in the morning, followed by Chemistry Paper One in the afternoon.
He stated that supervisors received specific training on exam management to minimize any malpractices and adhere to the laid-down procedures on mobile phone use and access restrictions.
Ekalio detailed that security teams led by the County Commissioner, the County Police Commander, and various sub-county education units have been assigned to oversee the process, ensuring every exam session is closely monitored.
Support from KUPPET Busia County
Moffats Okisai, the Executive Secretary of KUPPET in Busia County, echoed Ekalio’s commitment to a malpractice-free exam period, stressing the importance of providing a conducive environment for students.
Okisai advised day scholars to avoid distractions, including social gatherings such as “disco matanga,” and to maintain focus during the exam period.
Okisai also called upon the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) to improve the terms of service for teachers involved in the exams.
He noted that the current Sh600 daily allowance for center managers is insufficient, urging KNEC to consider fair compensation for their efforts and improve working conditions during the marking process.
ALSO READ: KCSE Examination Malpractice: Two Students Found with Mobile Phones in Ruiru
During the opening of the exam materials, notable attendees included Deputy County Commissioner Solomon Gitae, police chief Charles Chepkonga and his deputy Nicholas Kibet, Sub County Director of Education Elizabeth Marangach, and members of the multi-agency security teams from the sub-county.
This robust security and administrative presence underscored the county’s commitment to safeguarding the exam process and supporting fairness and transparency for all students.
Ten Teachers Hit with Ksh.2M Bond for KCSE Exam Malpractice.
