SCHOOLS’ SUPPORT STAFF ON THE SPOT AS PROFESSOR MAGOHA SEEKS TO UNRAVEL NEW TRICKS TO CHEAT IN THE NATIONAL EXAMINATIONS

As KNEC starts distributing papers to regional offices, new details have emerged linking schools’ support staff such as secretaries, watchmen, groundsmen/ women and cooks to examination cheating cartels which are determined to expose this year’s national tests.

According to Professor Magoha, examination cheating cartels have hit a dead end, their only option is to narrow down to the non-teaching staff.

Professor Magoha said this during a high-level security meeting last week which was held at the Kenya School of Government.

He also told the security officers to be extra vigilant since some schools are planning to have teachers stick around in the guise of being cooks or watchmen.

Upon opening of the examination papers, questions will be quickly sneaked to the teachers-come security officers and cooks who will consequently attempt them before smuggling the answers back into the examination rooms.

To prevent such incidences, centre managers will ensure that no unauthorized people access the examination centre during the entire period.

SURVEILLANCE
Professor Magoha has forewarned schools with such plans since the two-kilometre surveillance has been slated to reduce cases of cheating.

“Deliberate” mistakes of opening the second examinations paper during the morning session will not be tolerated. These cases will be linked to a deliberate intention to steal the national examination.

SUBJECT TEACHERS
Professor Magoha also noted that some schools are planning to retain subject teachers who will teach the candidates after a day’s examination.

Any unauthorized teacher will be duly punished if found hovering around the school like a vulture would after spotting a carcass.

During its investigations, KNEC unearthed some 315 schools which plan to station subject teachers to help students cheat in the upcoming national examinations.

Some primary schools plan to have teachers markup the examination for the pupils.

NEW STRATEGIES
After the high-level security meeting, KNEC and security officers came up with enhanced strategies to curb cheating.

Some of these will require the physical presence of Deputy County Commissioners and Assistant County Commissioners during the opening and closing of the KNEC examination containers.

Besides, every container will be guarded by four heavily armed security officers daily.