BY SHABAN OMAR
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has issued a stern warning against exam malpractice ahead of the upcoming national examinations.
He said that any student, teacher, or individual found engaging in activities to facilitate cheating will face severe legal consequences.
Approximately 965,000 candidates are expected to sit for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), while 1.3 million will take the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KEPSEA).
Ogamba said that the government is committed to ensuring the integrity of the examination process and cautioned that stringent measures will be in place to prevent any form of malpractice.
He further said that the government is keen to ensure that candidates earn results that reflect their hard work.
CS Ogamba reiterated that maintaining the integrity of the certificates is essential for safeguarding the credibility of the education system and securing the future of students.
He confirmed that all preparations for the national examinations are complete, stating, it is all systems go.
Ogamba also said that the Ministry of Education is working closely with key stakeholders, including the ICT sector and security agencies, to ensure the safety and credibility of the examinations are maximized.
He said the multi-agency approach aims to prevent any malpractices and uphold the standards of the examination process.
Ogamba also emphasized the importance of the Competency-Based Curriculum in shaping well-rounded and skilled students.
Ogamba said the government is looking forward to producing competent individuals who are prepared for the challenges of the modern world.
The CS spoke in an interview while accessing the progress of the construction of grade 9 classrooms in Kwale County.
During the inspection, he was accompanied by his PS Belio Kipsang.
Both Ogambo and Kipsang expressed their satisfaction with the progress made on the construction of the new classrooms.
Ogambo noted that many contractors in the school they have visited are meeting expectations, and the quality of the work justifies the funds allocated for the project.
He mentioned that the government aims to construct at least 16,000 classrooms, but so far, 3,500 have been completed across the county.
Ogambo pledged that the remaining classrooms would be finished before January 2025.
Kipsang, on his part, stated that the government is committed to ensuring there are enough classrooms to accommodate grade nine students as they transition next year.
The PS also urged MPS to join hands through the constituency funds to help the government construct more classrooms for every child to get quality education.