The Kenya National Examinations Council (Knec) has issued new rules and regulations to be followed when conducting national examinations scheduled for next month.
The new KNEC rules also provide for stiff penalties for candidates and examiners guilty of misconduct.
The council explained the new rules and regulations ahead of the national exams in a meeting with all examiners of the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA), Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) and Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE).
Knec Chief Executive Officer Dr David Jengere said this academic year is a unique academic year due to the revised academic calendar and the number of examinations to be held.
The Chief Executive of KNEC called on all education stakeholders to ensure efficiency and effectiveness in the administration and conduct of national examinations.
Some of the guidelines set by KNEC ahead of this year’s five national exams include:
1. Candidates should not be allowed extra time while sitting for KPSEA, KCPE and KCSE exams.
2. Examiners, without the permission of the special supervisor, do not have any necessary actions during the exam.
3. Any communication between candidates and foreigners inside or outside the school premises is not allowed.
4. According to Knec, any kind of behavior by the candidate will be considered as an attempt to cheat in the exam.
5. In the exam room, candidates are warned not to share their answers with their colleagues.
6. The use of short notes during the examination is prohibited and punishable.
7. Students are warned not to access the test material or open the content of any page. Any student who commits this offense shall be liable to a fine or fine not exceeding Sh2 million or imprisonment for ten years or both.
8. Tampering with test materials shall be punishable by imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or a fine not exceeding Sh5 million or both.
9. KNEC warned against impersonation. Those who plan to conduct the exam on behalf of candidates will face the full force of the law.
If the liar is a student, he will be banned from taking the exam for three years.
10. Marking irregularities made by the candidate, any paper will lead to the cancellation of the results of all subjects.
11. If anomalies are widespread and detected in any assessment centre, the results for all centers will be cancelled.
12. Owning and using a mobile phone in the examination center is illegal.
13. Candidates, invigilators, supervisors or teachers are not allowed to enter the exam hall using phones or other electronic devices.
14. Schools that do not have thirty (30) candidates and are five (5) kilometers away from the nearest test center must request special permission from Knec through the District Education Director to conduct the test at their place.
15. There should be a ratio of one driver for every 20 students and one supervisor for every 200 candidates.