A total of 1,103 candidates in 68 primary schools across 42 districts cheated in the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examination results released by Education minister Prof Sam Ongeri on Tuesday. Ongeri noted there was a drop in the level of irregularities, as 744, 977 (99.9 per cent) out of the 746, 080 who sat the 2010 KCPE examination were not involved in cheating.
"This means the number of candidates involved in cheating was negligible but no candidate should cheat in any examination," added Ongeri.
While announcing the 2009 KCPE results, Ongeri had also noted a slight drop in irregularities as compared to 2008 but had decried unethical registration processes which deny rural children their rightful chances.
The arid North-Easterrn province topped other provinces with the highest number of irregularities. A total of 396 candidates in 19 schools spread across eight districts in the province were involved in irregularities. North-Eastern was followed closely by Nyanza province where 231 candidates in 13 schools drawn from eight districts cheated. In North Eastern, cheating was experienced in Lagdera, Fafi, Wajir North, Wajir South, Mandera West , Mandera East , Ijara and Garissa districts.
Cases of irregularities also reported in almost all the country have failed to be contained despite persistent efforts by Knec and the ministry of Education over the years, and especially stringent measures that had been taken earlier in the year. One of the most drastic measures that had been taken by KNEC was to ban afternoon examinations starting with this year’s KCPE. In 2009, cheating was more rife in private as compared to public schools.
In 80 centres or schools where candidates cheated, 33 were private schools/centres out of a total of 3,168 private schools, while 47 were public schools out of a total of 17,669 public schools. Candidates who cheat in examinations starting from this year will be barred from taking any Knec examinations for a period of two years.
"This means the number of candidates involved in cheating was negligible but no candidate should cheat in any examination," added Ongeri.While announcing the 2009 KCPE results, Ongeri had also noted a slight drop in irregularities as compared to 2008 but had decried unethical registration processes which deny rural children their rightful chances.
The arid North-Easterrn province topped other provinces with the highest number of irregularities. A total of 396 candidates in 19 schools spread across eight districts in the province were involved in irregularities. North-Eastern was followed closely by Nyanza province where 231 candidates in 13 schools drawn from eight districts cheated. In North Eastern, cheating was experienced in Lagdera, Fafi, Wajir North, Wajir South, Mandera West , Mandera East , Ijara and Garissa districts.
Cases of irregularities also reported in almost all the country have failed to be contained despite persistent efforts by Knec and the ministry of Education over the years, and especially stringent measures that had been taken earlier in the year. One of the most drastic measures that had been taken by KNEC was to ban afternoon examinations starting with this year’s KCPE. In 2009, cheating was more rife in private as compared to public schools.
In 80 centres or schools where candidates cheated, 33 were private schools/centres out of a total of 3,168 private schools, while 47 were public schools out of a total of 17,669 public schools. Candidates who cheat in examinations starting from this year will be barred from taking any Knec examinations for a period of two years.
