THE Ministry of Education yesterday insisted it is not possible to administer fresh tests for the 3,000 candidates whose last year's KCSE results were nullified. Reacting to PM Raila Odinga’s sentiments that there is need for the Kenya National Examinations Council to administer fresh tests for the candidates, Education minister Mutula Kilonzo said it is not possible as there exists no policy on the matter.
Mutula said if such a move is taken by his ministry, it is likely to undermine Kenya’s education system, both locally and internationally. “The integrity of our education system will be highly questioned locally and internationally and we cannot just undertake such a process without proper policies,” said the minister. He told the Star that his ministry is currently working on a new law that will replace the existing one and is aimed at curbing examination irregularities in the country. Knec has invited stakeholders' input to further enrich the new law expected to reform the system of national examinations administration by jailing those who cheat and those who abet the cheating.
Mutula said administering an examination selectively to the affected students may force those who failed the examinations last year to also demand a repeat. “If you say we administer fresh tests to those whose results were cancelled without them necessarily repeating their Form Four classes, then how will you handle those who failed the exams?,” said the minister, adding: ''The failures may also demand for a repeat of the same, which is un procedural.''
The PM has suggested that Knec officials who are found culpable of exam irregularities should also be disciplined alongside the concerned students. According to Knec, Northern Kenya region had the highest number of exam cheats at 1,600. Raila criticised the exam body over continued leakage of national exams and said action should be taken against those who abetted the practice.
Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere has, however, called for thorough investigations before exam results are released to establish facts about irregularities. He said it was difficult to tell whether some of the council officials could be trusted with handling the crucial examinations. Iteere said impersonation of candidates and smuggling of illegal material into examinations rooms remained a common offence. To avoid cases of collusion between police officers and exam officials, the police boss advised Knec to buy containers to be placed in police stations for storage of exam material.
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