‘Our Security Features Will Identify Those Taking Photos Of KCSE Exam Papers,’ Says PS Jwan

NAROK,Kenya, Mar, 22 – Basic Education Principal Secretary Dr Julius Jwan says that the ministry of education has identified the ‘cartel’ of some teachers and security officers engaging in examination malpractice.

Jwan who supervised the distribution of examination materials in Narok county on Tuesday said that a security feature on the examination material will allow investigating agencies as well as the ministry of education to identify those exposing the 2021 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) Examination.

“The last bit of the security feature which we can’t give many details about, has helped us thoroughly,that if you are to take a photo of the exam and we are able to see the photo we are able to use our system to identify where the photo has been taken,” he said.

The PS commended teachers and security officers for safeguarding the integrity of the exams while cautioning those engaging in any forms of illegality.

“It is a small cartel,what they do is one center manager conspires with security officer they open the second paper especially at that time they are opening the first paper,”

On Monday Education Cabinet Secretary Professor George Magoha while in Kisumu denounced claims that the exams have been leaked saying that despite several cases of exam malpractice including several cell phones found in exam centers and even impersonation being reported, ‘early exposure’ of exams is to blame.

“There is no way anybody under this earth can breach the security of that examination very carelessly like some of the pressmen have been saying, it is not acceptable. We know what has been happening,” said Magoha who further noted that,”One or two will connive with security people there and photograph that paper and put on the internet..that is not leakage. That word is repugnant and it is totally unreasonable. Unless there is another narrative which somebody wants to have with regards to the integrity of the exams.

Magoha has now likened those exposing exams to candidates as criminals saying that they will be dealt with according to the law.

“We accept that there are a few crooks or goons among teachers who will attempt to expose the second paper…but if the children are already in the classroom and they just have a window of half and hour between the first and second paper, tell me how that exposure is going to help them…it is actually something that is not very intelligent if not very stupid,” he said.

Magoha has meanwhile issued a series of guidelines to center managers including, keeping school gates wide open to facilitate ease of monitoring of all processes,restriction of access of unauthorized personnel including teachers as well allowing teachers handling practical subjects in exam centers during the days the subject are taken.

“Security officers must sit at positions where they have a full view of the examination materials for the second daily paper as the morning paper is underway. Supervisors and invigilators must not take any time off from the examination rooms for any other activity while examinations are in progress,” he said Magoha further saying that, “Mobile phones must not be allowed at the examination centre except one for the centre manager, and one for the security officer, both of which should be kept at the centre manager’s office in case of any emergency.”

So far, several cases of impersonation have been reported with private exam centers now under increased scrutiny by education ministry officials.

According to the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) a total of 831,015 candidates will be sitting for the KCSE 2021 Exams.

The examinations are being administered in 10, 413 examination centres.