What DCI is recommending to curb exam cheating

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations has made a number of proposals to the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Education to curb cheating during national examinations. 

The Parliamentary Committee on Education had engaged DCI as it was conducting investigations on allegations of exam malpractice in the 2022 KCSE exams.

DCI told the education committee that tough penalties should be recommended against those found guilty of examination cheating.

The security organ also wants "examination officers found involved in exam cheating and malpractices to be severely punished including being discharged from their jobs."

DCI further says that schools ought to be advised to invest in CCTV cameras, especially in examination rooms.

"Knec should improve on the invigilation and supervision of examinations," DCI told the committee. 

The security organ said Knec should have enough thoroughly trained invigilators and supervisors to handle the examinations, making it difficult for examination malpractices.

DCI said honesty should be a moral value emphasised and entrenched in schools from basic education up to university level.

Additionally, DCI said there are possible threats to the integrity of national examinations which are posed by technology. 

The security organ said if technology is left unchecked, the integrity of the national examinations is likely to be compromised and therefore the certificates will not be recognised.

"Parents and Guardians and owners of private schools will be victims of examination conmen. It may also create an unequal environment with those exposed to the examination papers having the advantage over other students," DCI said.

Following exam malpractices in the 2022 KCSE, DCI recovered 47 mobile phones, 12 unauthorised exam materials like written tissue, and one impersonation case. 

Investigations conducted by the Parliamentary Committee found that exam malpractices in the 2022 KSCE included collusion to share answers, use of mobile phones in exam rooms, impersonation, smuggling of unauthorised written material, leakage and plagiarism among others. 

The report was submitted in Parliament on Wednesday by the committee chairman MP Julius Melly. 

DCI requested the committee to consider making laws that make the use of biometrics mandatory to prevent impersonation.

It also noted that there are 44 cases of exam malpractices in the 2022 KCSE that are still under investigation, 17 are pending before the court while only six have been finalised. 

DCI said there is also a need for the National Assembly to consider making recommendations on timelines for examination cheating and malpractice cases in courts.

"This will help reduce the long periods cases take before they are concluded as is the case with the presidential election petitions," DCI proposed. 

It also called for the diversification of communities at exam marking centres should be considered when allocating tasks.