The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) is issuing a stern warning to all invigilators as the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations commence across the country.
In a recent announcement, KNEC has emphasized the utmost importance of safeguarding the integrity of the KCSE practical exam papers. The council has specifically cautioned all center managers against the unauthorized disclosure of advanced confidential instructions related to the preparation of science practical examination papers. This precaution extends to sharing such information with individuals who do not possess the necessary authorization, including the candidates themselves, before the scheduled exam time.
The official notice issued by KNEC firmly states, "We wish to strongly caution all KCSE Centre Managers against sharing advanced confidential instructions for the preparation of science practical examination papers with unauthorized persons." The council is urging strict adherence to its rules and regulations, and any deviation from these regulations will result in the imposition of sanctions as prescribed by the KNEC Act.
Under the KNEC Act, center managers found guilty of violating these rules may face severe consequences, including imprisonment for a term not exceeding twelve months or a fine not exceeding Ksh500,000, or both. These penalties are applicable to those who gain access to examination materials and deliberately reveal their contents, whether through oral communication or written disclosure to unauthorized parties, regardless of whether they are candidates or not. Additionally, individuals who willfully and maliciously damage examination materials will also be subject to these legal measures.
The warning extends to other individuals who may engage in fraudulent activities during the KCSE examinations, such as those who are not registered to take a particular council examination but attempt to impersonate or present themselves as enrolled candidates, as well as those who possess or present forged certificates or diplomas.
The national examinations have officially commenced, with candidates today sitting for their physics practicals. A total of 903,260 candidates have registered to participate in these examinations.
The science practical papers are scheduled to run until Friday, with the KCSE examination itself extending until November 24.
Data from the Ministry of Education reveals that just under a million students will take the KCSE, while 1.4 million will sit for the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE). An estimated 3.5 million students are expected to take part in these two major examinations, along with the newly introduced Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA).