Kisumu Countys’ Jalaram Academy students have invented an anti-examination cheating security box to curb the cheating menace in schools.
The invention by Brian Steve and Azelia McKenzie, which was exhibited during the Nyanza Regional Engineering Fair held at Isibania Boys’ High School in Migori County recently, is aimed at solving some of the problems faced in the management process on national exams.
The anti-examination cheating machine has security features that seals examination papers in a box with a special code for each center and can send Short Mobile Messages to those in authority each time a box is opened.
The students say the idea was challenged by numerous cases of exam cheating in the country which jeopardizes the integrity of national examinations.
“We have been watching over the media on cases of examination cheating with teachers and students being arrested for accessing the papers before time, compromising integrity, which inspired us to invent the box,” Steve said.
He said unlike the current security feature where papers are only placed under a manual seal which can easily be broken, their box has a mobile and sensor.
The box has five key features which include a special code which has details of all examination material like the teacher in-charge, a pad where password codes to open the box are placed and timers for when it is opened.
“When the box blinks with a blue color it shows the content have not been tempered with and each time it is open it turns into white and sends a buzzer to alert people around,” Steve said.
McKenzie explained further that an SMS is then sent to those in charge of examinations including police and also to the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) notifying them on time the box is opened.
“With a time stamp, it will show if the box is opened before time and due date of the examination which will help in curbing attempts to cheat in the examination before the due date,” he said.
The sensors and the systems have been sourced online while assembling and coding done by the students through computers and training by their teachers.
Moses Otiende, the senior school teacher at the academy which uses the British education system said they hope after the regional exhibition, the government will consider implementing the project to better manage the examinations.
“We want to safeguard the integrity of examinations and over eight per cent of cheating is caused by prior access to examination materials, which this system will hinder completely,” Otiende said.
He said the box cannot be hacked as the system is placed manually and data sent via SMS over existing phone networks which can be placed even in places that have little connectivity to network.
“This is a prototype and in places where the network is completely out, it can be upgraded into satellite mode, the device can be affordably set up and it will be cheaper when mass produced,” Otiende.
The three are anticipating that the country may pick it up and help in pushing through the invention.
“Since it is used to secure vital documents, the same technology can also be used in the electoral system in securing ballot boxes and the judiciary and justice system to secure exhibits and files,” Otiende added.
The Kenya Science and Engineering fair, which are high school competitions being held countrywide, nurture talent and innovation among students in the country.
By Norah Musega
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