Education

KCSE exam papers circulating online are fake - Knec

The chief executive of the Kenya National Examinations Council Dr David Njengere. (Photo: KNA)

By Eastleigh Voice Reporter | Monday, November 13, 2023

Despite precautions set to safeguard the credibility of the exams, Knec acknowledged 46 reported cases of malpractice nationwide.

The Kenya National Examinations Council (Knec) has warned candidates and parents to be wary of counterfeit examination papers making rounds on social media platforms as the theory exams entered the second week on Monday.

Dr David Njengere, the chief executive of KNEC, insisted that the exam papers circulating on social media are deceptive and specifically crafted to mislead unsuspecting candidates.

Keep reading

Speaking in Murang’a on Monday during the distribution of exam materials to schools, Dr Njengere reassured the public that newly implemented guidelines are effectively safeguarding the integrity of the examination process.

These measures include the separation of collection and return of morning and afternoon exam papers from the container to the examination centres.

Centre managers now bear the responsibility of ensuring that the morning and afternoon papers are stored separately.

The move is aimed at preventing the premature exposure and leakage of sensitive examination materials, a recurring issue in the past.

Malpractice cases

Despite these precautions, Dr Njengere acknowledged 46 reported cases of malpractice nationwide.

Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu reported last Friday that among these cases, 28 involved unauthorized materials in examination centres, nine concerned the possession of mobile phones, and three implicated collusion.

Six instances of an ongoing examination paper being published on social media have also been reported.

“As a result of these cases, nine Center Managers have been replaced. The malpractices have implicated a total of 46 candidates countrywide,” stated the CS after monitoring the KCSE chemistry practical exams at Kolanya Girls’ High School.

However, Dr Njengere downplayed the significance of this number, asserting that it is not substantial enough to compromise the overall integrity of the examinations.

In an effort to address potential disruptions caused by heavy rains in certain regions, Dr Njengere revealed that various measures have been implemented to ensure that schools in affected areas receive their examination papers on time.