Report: Unraveling the 2022 KCSE Exam Cheating Scandal
The National Assembly Departmental Committee on Education has released a report after inquiring into the allegations of malpractices in the 2022 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education examination.
Wednesday, Julius Melly, a representative from Tinderet, presented the report to the Parliament as chairman of the department.
According to the report, the Ministry of Education indicated that the Kenya National Examination Council received allegations of plagiarism and other irregularities during the KCSE examination in 2022.
However, according to the ministry, the cases were handled properly and did not result in the cancellation of results.
The report indicates that the use of mobile phones to aid in exam cheating was among the exam malpractices employed.
“Some centers reported candidates to have attempted to sneak mobile phones in the examination centers during examination sessions,” the report read in part.
The confiscated phones were turned over to the DCI for further investigation.
In addition to possessing unauthorized materials on their way to the examination rooms, students were also in possession of such items.
“This was detected during the frisking of the candidates before the start of examination sessions. The guidelines on supervision and invigilation stipulate that candidates should be frisked before entering examination rooms to curb any case of examination malpractices,” the report adds.
The materials that were seized by the examiners and supervisors during the pat-down were not used to punish candidates.
In addition, the committee discovered that some students had illicit access to examination materials.
“There were 13 cases of early exposure where center managers or supervisors opened the question papers early and attempted to share the same on social media,” reads the report.
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The aforementioned centers have been identified, and the perpetrators have been apprehended and charged.
An investigation of the affected centers during the marking process revealed neither an advantage nor evidence of collusion for the candidates in these centers.
In addition, the committee reported instances of impersonation during examinations.
“There were three (3) cases of attempted impersonation. The imposters were arrested and charged in court,” said the report.
There was also a suspicion that students shared their answers.
“There were 20 suspected cases reported during marking by the examiners. It was alleged that candidates presented similar and identical responses,” the report read.
The suspected cases were further investigated, and the evidence did not satisfy the threshold required by KNEC guidelines for the cancellation of examination results.
In addition, KNEC, via the Teachers Service Commission and the National Police Service, replaced approximately 300 contracted professionals when it was discovered that they were not performing their duties by the examination rules and guidelines.
Report: Unraveling the 2022 KCSE Exam Cheating Scandal
