KCPE exam marred by cheating

Two teachers in Kisumu were arrested for sharing Kenya Certificate of Primary Education examination papers with colleagues before the tests began on Tuesday.

The teachers are said to have shared the papers at 5.30am through the mobile messaging application WhatsApp before the tests started at 8.30am.

The Nation got the Mathematics paper on Monday night, a day before the paper was administered.

It was the exact paper the candidates tackled Tuesday morning.

SEVERAL QUESTIONS

As the Mathematics exam was going on, the Nation received several questions from a source, who promised to provide more papers.

The Mathematics paper was bought for Sh500, with the seller promising to provide more for coming exams.

On Tuesday, Kenya National Examinations Council Chief Executive Officer Joseph Kivilu said the two teachers were arrested after sharing the Mathematics and English papers.

They had received them from a colleague in Migori County through WhatsApp.

“The two teachers had access to the paper at 5.30am. This is the time when test papers leave examination centres,” said Dr Kivilu.

However, the official denied claims that the exam could have leaked a day before, saying it was not possible.

KCSE LEAKAGE

The leakage of Standard Eight exam papers comes days after the conclusion of the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education tests, which were marred by malpractices.

Several teachers, police officers and university students were arrested and charged in court.

The KCPE tests will continue Wednesday, with candidates sitting the Science, Kiswahili Lugha and Kiswahili Insha papers, while on Thursday, they will conclude with Social Studies and Religious Education.

A total of 937,467 candidates are sitting the exam at 25,140 centres. A total of 25,261 supervisors, 58,215 invigilators, 50,280 security officers and 7,451 examiners are involved in the exam.

The council has been under pressure to take action against its staff, who have been accused of