Education CS Machogu disputes claims of exam cheating in the KCSE 2022
Education CS Machogu disputes claims of exam cheating in the KCSE 2022. Ezekiel Machogu, the cabinet secretary in charge of education, yesterday provided more specific information about the KCSE exam results for 2022 as he defended his ministry against allegations of widespread cheating and insisted that students deserved the marks they received.
“The true grade was what our students received. The propaganda has no basis. The inspection was reliable, and its integrity was unaltered, he claimed.
When he went before the National Assembly Education and Research Committee, which is looking into allegations of widespread exam cheating, Mr. Machogu attempted to clarify the situation.
National outcry over the KCSE results, which showed Nyambaria High School topping the rankings with a mean score of 10.90 and dethroning other top schools, led to the investigation.
The school that produced the most As was Mang’u High School with 82. 28 individuals from Nyambaria received the coveted grade.
Mr. Machogu urged the lawmakers to present solid proof of cheating. Some of the testimony will be heard behind closed doors at a later time, according to committee chair Julius Melly (Tinderet).
Tim Kipchumba, a Marakwet West MP, charged that the CS took a defensive attitude rather than looking into the concerns brought forward. In the event that it was discovered that the Kenya National Examinations Council (Knec) was at fault, he tasked Mr. Machogu with accepting responsibility.
Recognition of irregularities
Mr. Machogu recognized a few of the identified errors but claimed that they were insufficient to cause the results to be canceled.
Examiners suspected cooperation in 20 cases after they submitted similar answers, but an examination revealed that none of them met the criteria for cancellation. Unauthorized exam materials were discovered in the possession of several candidates.
Three incidences of impersonation were reported, and candidates 14 centers tried to sneak cellphones into the exam rooms.
The committee has held open hearings where a variety of parties have spoken and demonstrated how the examinations were tainted by anomalies. The MPs’ final opportunity to draft a report will be during the ministry’s presentation.
In particular, Mr. Machogu said that some schools in the counties of Nyamira and Kisii had been unfairly singled out. He continued by saying that some schools released false mean results to indicate that they had fared better than they actually had.
“In the Nyanza area, Kisii and Nyamira counties actually had the lowest percentage of grade As. The greatest number was in Siaya County at 72, followed by Homa Bay and Migori at 62 and Kisumu at 59. According to Mr. Machogu, Kisii scored 51 As whereas Nyamira had 30.
David Njeng’ere, CEO of Knec, rejected allegations that certain candidates got access to marking schemes in advance, claiming that examiners only prepare the document after the candidates have taken the test.
The outcomes of the exam are typically moderated, but in accordance with international norms, according to Dr. Njeng’ere. He was reacting to a remark that no Wajir candidate had ever received an A since independence made by Mandera South MP Abdul Ebrahim.