KCSE exams begin in earnest on Monday next week and students, teachers and communities neighbouring examination centres should be advised to maintain civility to avoid distracting candidates sitting their final examinations.
National exams have had a shameful history of exam malpractices in past years, which is an embarrassing fact. Exam malpractice is a form of corruption, and so, in this season, we should ensure a level playing field for all candidates.
Cabinet Secretary for Education Julius Ogamba needs to exert great effort this season because warning students and teachers has never been enough to let them write their exams with integrity. Integrity during examination session is maintained by proper inspection and supervision.
To achieve excellence, CS Ogamba should actively follow the footsteps of former CS Fred Matiang’i and the late Magoha, who could tirelessly patrol all over the country inspecting exam sessions. This will assist in maintaining credibility of the exams and the consequent qualifications.
Approximately 965,000 candidates are expected to sit for KCSE this year and it would be impressive none of the candidates are notified that their exam results have been cancelled due to malpractice come next year.
Most schools have CCTV cameras and this is the right time to make good use of them. Before the D-Day, the school administration should ensure that all cameras are properly installed and positioned to flag out cheats. Schools without CCTVs must be advised to atleast, if possible, install one per exam room. This is one of the easiest trick to maintain integrity.
Further, Supervisors and invigilators should not show some mercy to lawbreakers. Let the candidates be properly frisked. This will help prevent them from entering the examination room with illegal materials including the so called “oxygen/mwakenya”.
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On the other hand, students should be advised to prepare both spiritually, emotionally and physically. Let every student revise smart to gain courage and confidence. When a student studies well, they will be able to tackle the paper without anxiety.
These measures will reduce cases where a student scores large grades in KCSE but fails to show the relevant grade effort in campus.
As communities around examination centers are keeping oversight, teachers should minimize contact and let students be and not stuff new information or knowledge upon them.
It is high time for candidates and all related shareholders to style up. Let us avoid this embarrassing practice in and shape the upcoming generation with integrity. We all have a part to play in curbing exam malpractice in the country. Say no to exams malpractice!
By Besil Otunga
The writer is a Journalism student at Rongo University.
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