Overview of the Report Cheating in the KCSE 2022
Following an investigation into claims of wrongdoing in the 2022 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education examination, the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Education produced a report.
The report was submitted to Parliament on Wednesday by the committee, which was chaired by Tinderet MP Julius Melly. According to the article, the Kenya National Examination Council had received accusations of cheating and other anomalies during the 2022 KCSE examination from the Ministry of Education. However, the Ministry claimed that these cases were handled properly and that no results were cancelled.
The use of mobile phones to aid candidates in cheating was one of the examination malpractices noted in the report. Some exam centers reported applicants attempting to sneak mobile phones into examination sessions, and these phones were confiscated and turned over to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) for further investigation.
According to the allegation, some candidates were detected using forbidden items as they made their way to the examination rooms. Such incidences were discovered during candidate frisking prior to the start of examination sessions, as required by supervision and invigilation rules.
Materials seized during the frisking procedure were not used to punish the candidates. The committee identified 13 instances of early disclosure, in which center managers or supervisors prematurely opened question papers and attempted to disseminate them on social media. The culpable centers were located, and those involved were apprehended and charged.
However, later examinations during the marking process found no evidence of candidate advantage or collaboration in these centers.
Another issue noted in the study was attempted impersonation during exams, with three occurrences documented. The impersonators were apprehended and charged in court.
The investigation also highlighted 20 suspected examples of collusion, in which candidates reportedly provided similar and identical responses during marking. These incidents were investigated further, however the evidence did not match the KNEC requirements for canceling candidates’ examination results.
Finally, the study stated that KNEC, in coordination with the Teachers Service Commission and the National Police Service, removed around 300 hired professionals who were found to be violating examination rules and guidelines.
