Report Shows 2022 KCSE Exam Cheating was Aided by Government Operatives

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.

The department is chaired by Tinderet MP Julius Melly who presented the report to Parliament on Wednesday.

The report states that the Ministry of Education had indicated that the Kenya National Examination Council received reports of alleged cases of cheating and other malpractices during the 2022 KCSE examination.

However, the ministry stated that the cases were dealt with appropriately and did not result in the cancellation of results.

The report states that among the exam malpractices that were used aimed at helping the candidates cheat was the use of mobile phones.

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“Some centres reported candidates to have attempted to sneak mobile phones in the examination centres during examination sessions,” the report read in part.

The phones were confiscated and handed over to DCI for further investigations.

Learners also possessed unauthorized materials as they were making their way to the exam rooms.

“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.

Materials that were intercepted by the invigilators and supervisors during frisking were not used to penalise candidates.

Further, the committee noted that there were learners who had unauthorised possession of examination materials.

“There were 13 cases of early exposure where centre managers or supervisors opened the question papers early and attempted to share the same on social media,” reads the report.

The said centres were identified and the perpetrators were arrested and arraigned.

An investigation of the affected centres during marking did not indicate any advantage gained by the candidates in these centres nor any evidence of collusion.

The committee also reported that there were cases of impersonation during exams.

“There were three (3) cases of attempted impersonation. The imposters were arrested and charged in court,” said the report.

There was also suspicion that learners colluded to share 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 meet the threshold that warrants the cancellation of candidates’ examination results as per KNEC guidelines.

Additionally, KNEC through the Teachers Service Commission and the National Police Service replaced about 300 contracted professionals in instances where it was found that the personnel were not performing their roles as per the examination rules and guidelines.