Kenya: Cheating On the Decline As Exam Results Released

The  number of cases of examination malpractice during the 2012 Kenya  Certificate of Primary Examinations were 718 in total down from 7,967  cases in 2011.

Eighty-eight  people including students and teachers were arrested for irregularities during the examinations.  The  top three students nationally in the 2012 Kenya Certificate of Primary

Examinations are Kinoti Joy Kathure from Meru county, Mwaura Boniface  Kiongo from Kiambu county and Wachira Njomo also from Kiambu county,  each with 430 marks out of a possible 500.

New  Light Komarock in Kiambu is the top performing school, second is Makini  Ngong Road Academy also in Nairobi followed by Gilgil Hills Academy in Nakuru.

The  top county is Kirinyaga with an average mark of 237, followed by Elgeyo  Marakwet with 272 while Nandi county is third with 271 marks.

Speaking  during the release of the results Kenya National Examination Council  (KNEC) secretary Paul Wesonga said security was beefed up during the  examinations to thwart attempts by students and members of the public to  disrupt the examinations by committing irregularities adding that the  KCPE is not a “pass or fail exam.”  Permanent  Secretary Professor George Godia said after today’s announcement  students will make their transition to the 78 national schools stating  that “National schools are not just about high marks. They are about  representation of the face of Kenya in terms of the constitution” adding  that a further 27 national schools will be added to satisfy the  constitutional requirement of inclusiveness and equity.

“We  have put in place many innovative reforms in education that I expect  will create a major positive impact in the education sector” Said  Education Minister Mutula Kilonzo as he touched on the five acts passed  during his tenure. These include Sessional paper No 14, the National  Examination Council Act, the Teachers Service Commission Act, the Kenya  Institute of Curriculum and Development Act and the Basic Education Act.

He  added that there was a marked increase in the number of students  sitting for the KCPE examination which rose from 334,336 candidates in  1985 to 811,930 in 2012 representing a 142.85 per cent increase since  KCPE was started.

He  also noted that gender parity had nearly been achieved as it stood at  51.2 per cent boys: 48.9 per cent girls in 2012 stating that it is “is  the closest we have been towards achieving gender parity in KCPE  Examination in 10 years.”

There  were 19 counties where gender parity was completely achieved while 11  others where gender disparity was still a factor. Tana River, Marsabit  and Isiolo were the counties were the most severe cases. Tana River  which had the highest disparity recorded a ration of 60 per cent boys  and 40 per cent girls.