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| File image of students sitting for an exam |
More than 900,000 students across the country started their Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) theory exams on Monday, November 4, initiating a three-week examination period.
The Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) introduced a series of stringent measures aimed at curbing cheating, including personalizing each exam paper with the candidate’s name and index number and eliminating extra printed copies.
In a statement on Sunday, November 3, KNEC's Chief Executive Officer, Dr. David Njengere, confirmed that thorough preparations have been made to ensure the smooth conduct of exams.
“We are set and have given briefings... After the national briefing, we went to every sub-county, to centre managers, supervisors,” he said, emphasizing that all personnel involved have been trained on the new guidelines.
This year, each exam paper is personalized with the candidate’s details, marking a significant change aimed at preventing impersonation and cheating.
Dr. Njengere noted that the portion of the paper containing candidates’ names will be detached at the end of each exam and packed separately.
“This is the first time that the part that has the candidates’ details will be separated... so that examiners are not able to see the name of the candidate,” he explained.
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| Education CS Julius Ogamba |
At the same time, KNEC has announced there will be no extra papers printed, a shift from past practices where surplus copies were available as backups.
“This time there will be no extra papers because we have personalized them all,” Dr. Njengere stated, emphasizing Knec’s dedication to maintaining exam security.
New guidelines also place responsibility on individual candidates for any instances of cheating.
Unlike in previous years, only students found guilty of malpractice will face consequences, avoiding penalties for entire schools or examination centers.
To further secure exam integrity, KNEC is continuing with its “double collection” system to prevent early exposure of papers.
Morning and afternoon exam papers are packed separately, and center managers must collect each set just before the relevant session.
“We killed the challenge that we have had all these years on early exposure by collecting twice, and we will continue with that,” Dr. Njengere remarked, adding that 41 new secure containers have been set up, totaling 610 nationwide.
The examination materials will be released daily from these secure containers at precisely 7:00 a.m. and are scheduled to run up to November 22.
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