Professor George Magoha yesterday launched the 2020 national examinations and officiated the issuing of security padlocks for the 479 containers to the Deputy County Commissioners and the Sub County Directors of Education ahead of KCPE and KCSE that is scheduled to take place this month.
“This year is, however, much different from the previous years given that we are operating in the COVID-19 era. As a result, I am urging all those who will be involved in the administration of the examinations to strictly comply with the Ministry of Health’s COVID-19 protocols, which we have been enforcing in schools since the resumption of studies.” Said Magoha.
“Particularly, I wish to stress that:
No Centre Manager should turn up at any examination container to collect or drop off examinations without wearing a face mask;
All officials who attend services at the examination centres must use sanitiser or wash their hands before being allowed to handle examination materials.
At examination centres, all examination officials must wash their hands or sanitize before they can open examination scripts for distribution to candidates.
All examination officials must regularly use sanitiser or wash their hands before frisking candidates ahead of the start of examination sittings.
Deputy County Commissioners (DCCS) and Assistant County Commissioners (ACCs), will be involved in the daily opening and closing of the containers in their respective Sub Counties.
Each container will be manned by four armed security officers on a 24/7 basis once the examinations are delivered to the Sub Counties. Additional security officers will be deployed from time to time when the need arises.
Once the examination papers for the day have been issued, the container must be locked to be reopened when candidates’ answer scripts are returned after the day’s examinations.
The security in charge of the container must adhere to the rules about the opening and closing of the container.
Security officers will be used to escort the examination materials from the KNEC warehouse to the examination storage facilities in the Sub Counties. Upon arrival at the Sub Counties, the examinations will be handed over to the Sub County Directors of Education and the Deputy County Commissioners who will provide security for the examinations.
All question papers will be escorted by armed security officers each day of the examination when the centre managers will be collecting and returning the candidates’ answer scripts to the container. While at the examination centre, the security officers will ensure adequate security is provided to all the candidates and the examination materials.
The centre manager must hand over examination materials to the Supervisor once he/she arrives at the examination centre. At no time should the examination papers be in the centre manager’s office. answer scripts to the container. While at the examination centre, the security officers will ensure adequate security is provided to all the candidates and the examination materials.
The centre manager must hand over examination materials to the Supervisor once he/she arrives at the examination centre. At no time should the examination papers be in the centre manager’s office.
Upon completion of the examinations, the Council will liaise with the Sub County Directors of Education and Deputy County Commissioners on when the candidates’ answer scripts will be returned to KNEC premises under armed security escort. While overseeing examinations, the vetted and appointed supervisors and invigilators must uphold integrity in the execution of their roles. They should be vigilant and deter any form of examination malpractice.
The Ministry of Education has banned supervisors and invigilators from being deployed in the same examination centres for more than two consecutive years in line with KNEC’s policy.
“Let me reiterate that the Ministry will never tire of dealing with any form of examinations cheating. Let us allow candidates to apply their knowledge in the examination room.” Warned Magoha
