178 cheats in Western

FRIDAY, 02 MARCH 2012 00:09 BY HILTON OTENYO

ONE hundred and seventy eight candidates who sat KCSE examinations last year in Western province had their results cancelled for cheating in various papers. Several other candidates from the region had their results withheld for failing to furnish the Kenya National Examinations Council with personal details. The school worst hit by cheating was Bukhaywa Secondary School in Matete district, where 145 of the 195 candidates did not get their results over collusion in the Biology paper.

Friends School Kaimosi had results for 12 students cancelled after they were caught sneaking in notes for Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Business Studies papers. One candidate from Marobo Secondary School in Bungoma Central district had his results withheld for extracting pages from a question paper, while 15 students at Chebukube School in the same district suffered the same fate.

St Joseph’s Academy and Kimaeti school had three and one candidates respectively caught with notes for History and Geography papers. The affected candidates have been banned from sitting the examination for two years. “Those whose results were held have been given until March 31 to furnish the Kenya National Examinations Council with the missing details, failure to which they will have their results cancelled,” said Omar Masimba, Western Provincial Examinations Officer.

He said those whose results were withheld failed to give all required documents for registration. He added the confusion may have been caused by the online registration adopted by the Education ministry. Masimba said the province most likely performed better than it did in 2010. “We are still analysing the results to come up with concrete figures as to our improvement but we have definitely done well,” he added.

Friends School Kamusinga recorded 37 straight As, 77 A (minus), 76 B (plus), 44 B (plain) and 30 B (minus) from 36 As, 60 A(minus), 71 B (plus), 41 B (plain) and 33 B (minus) the previous year. Kibabii Boys' High School had 19 As, 65 A(minus), 67 B (plus), 58 B (plain), 20 B (minus) and 6 C (plus) last year compared to 5 As, 32 A (minus), 52 B (plus), 57 B (plain) 46 B (minus) and 32 C (plus) the previous year.