KCPE exams not leaked, KNEC says

Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) Chairman, Professor John Onsati has assured Kenyans that the ongoing Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) Examinations have not leaked.

”The examination is intact. We are here to advice examination centre managers and security personnel deployed to ensure that all papers are secure,” Prof Onsati said in Mombasa Monday.

Prof Onsati spoke as he led senior government officials who included Coast Regional Coordinator, John Elung’ata and Mombasa County Commissioner, Gilbert Kitiyo in supervising the opening and distribution of examination material at the Mombasa DCC container before monitoring the administration of day one papers at various centres.

He further called on the centre managers to ensure all Coivd-19 Health protocols as per Ministry of Health directives are adhered to. These include wearing face masks, the enhanced spacing between candidates in the examination room.

Prof Onsati also urged centre managers to take caution as Kenya enters into the third wave of the coronavirus pandemic.

”We are conscious of what environment our children are in,” he said.

Educationists said that the tests have been moderated to factor in the time learners lost due to the closure of schools following the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Prof Onsati further directed security officers manning the examination centres to ensure that they cooperate fully to ensure the safety of candidates and examination material during the period the examination will be underway.

Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) Chairman, Prof John Onsati addressing the police officers who will be manning the KCPE exam.

On his part, Elung’ata reiterated the need to ensure that health protocols are adhered to in order to avoid making the examination centres super spreaders for the deadly virus.

Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha on his part warned that they were aware of plans to cheat through what he termed an ‘advanced cheating scheme of impersonation.’

CS Education Prof George Magoha peps up KCPE candidates at Kianjau primary school in Kiambu County moments before starting exams.

“We are aware that as we plan here for the effective administration of exams to protect the credibility of the tests, they are busy planning how to cheat,” said Magoha.

The CS also said the ministry has discovered that some candidates were planning to write answers on the masks.

“We know some of you are planning to use masks to cheat. Do not make such an attempt because we shall check you up and if we catch you it’s up to you,” Magoha warned.