UNEB tightens noose on cheating schools
Oct 20, 2010
INCREASING the number of examination scouts, storage centres and security operatives are some of the measures the national examinations body has taken to curb malpractices.
By Conan Businge
INCREASING the number of examination scouts, storage centres and security operatives are some of the measures the national examinations body has taken to curb malpractices.
Last year, some schools were disqualified after it had been established that they cheated. UNEB cancelled results of 1,499 PLE candidates and 2,742 O-level candidates last year.
The candidates were accused of receiving external assistance, smuggling of un-authorised material and notes into the examination room and impersonation.
Eva Konde, the national examinations body publicist, says this year the examinations body has put tougher measures in place to check malpractices.
“We are doing all that is possible to make sure there are no examination malpractices this year,†Konde told Mwalimu.
“We are ready to punish all those that will attempt to cheat,†Konde says. The number of scouts has almost been doubled.
Over 8,175 scouts have been hired, compared to about 5,000 last year.
The storage centres for examination scripts have also been increased from 290 to 341.
This, according to the deputy executive secretary of the board, Dan Odong, is meant to get the examination papers close to schools.
“To avoid malpractices, we have ensured that the distance between schools and centres is reduced,†Odong explained.
Due to delayed deliveries, some schools would start exams sometimes an hour late, contravening UNEB regulations.
Odong adds that the increase in the storage centres is also a result of the increase in the number of candidates due to Universal Secondary Education and free primary education.
Matthew Bukenya, the UNEB executive secretary, says the board is working with Police, internal security organisations and other security agencies to ensure that there are no examination malpractices.
He says anyone who will attempt to flout the process will be apprehended and punished.
The extra effort is partly due to the increased number of candidates this year.
This year, 885,190 pupils and students will sit for national examinations, according to official figures.
This means about 53,000 more students will sit for the examinations compared to last year.
The number of candidates has been rising every other academic year. In 2009, 831, 927 pupils and students registered for the national examinations, up from 755,302 in 2008.
There are about 2,555 examination centres all over the country for ordinary level and about 1,239 centres for A’ level, says Stephen Ocamringa, the UNEB senior examinations officer.
INCREASING the number of examination scouts, storage centres and security operatives are some of the measures the national examinations body has taken to curb malpractices.
Last year, some schools were disqualified after it had been established that they cheated. UNEB cancelled results of 1,499 PLE candidates and 2,742 O-level candidates last year.
The candidates were accused of receiving external assistance, smuggling of un-authorised material and notes into the examination room and impersonation.
Eva Konde, the national examinations body publicist, says this year the examinations body has put tougher measures in place to check malpractices.
“We are doing all that is possible to make sure there are no examination malpractices this year,†Konde told Mwalimu.
“We are ready to punish all those that will attempt to cheat,†Konde says. The number of scouts has almost been doubled.
Over 8,175 scouts have been hired, compared to about 5,000 last year.
The storage centres for examination scripts have also been increased from 290 to 341.
This, according to the deputy executive secretary of the board, Dan Odong, is meant to get the examination papers close to schools.
“To avoid malpractices, we have ensured that the distance between schools and centres is reduced,†Odong explained.
Due to delayed deliveries, some schools would start exams sometimes an hour late, contravening UNEB regulations.
Odong adds that the increase in the storage centres is also a result of the increase in the number of candidates due to Universal Secondary Education and free primary education.
Matthew Bukenya, the UNEB executive secretary, says the board is working with Police, internal security organisations and other security agencies to ensure that there are no examination malpractices.
He says anyone who will attempt to flout the process will be apprehended and punished.
The extra effort is partly due to the increased number of candidates this year.
This year, 885,190 pupils and students will sit for national examinations, according to official figures.
This means about 53,000 more students will sit for the examinations compared to last year.
The number of candidates has been rising every other academic year. In 2009, 831, 927 pupils and students registered for the national examinations, up from 755,302 in 2008.
There are about 2,555 examination centres all over the country for ordinary level and about 1,239 centres for A’ level, says Stephen Ocamringa, the UNEB senior examinations officer.