The Kenya National Examinations Council has okayed the presence of mobile phones in Examination centers during the exam period. The exam body revealed that principals will be allowed to have their mobile phones within the school premises during this year’s examinations.
The principals have however been barred from using the phones in examination rooms. The revelation was made by KNEC chairman Prof. George Magoha.
Exam materials will be guarded by police officers in the exam rooms after they are collected from the storage containers. Head teachers have been directed to collect the papers by 6am daily for the entire examinations period.
“The principals will be the managers of the examination centres,” Magoha’s circular reads.
The Kenya National Examination Council exam timetable shows students will sit a maximum of two papers in a day.
“Ensure that materials for the second exam are kept at a designated table in the same room where students are sitting the first exam of the day,” the circular reads.
This was part of the new directives by KNEC to ensure credibility of examinations. “Invigilators’ phones are to be locked away before an exam begins.”
“Ensure that armed security officers stay at close proximity to the examination materials throughout the day until they are returned to the container,” the circular says.
Magoha on Monday warned that there should not be unnecessary delays in returning examination materials to the containers.
“Soon after the exams are completed, we expect the papers back in the containers within the shortest time possible. Should there be an abnormal delay, the centre manager and supervisor must give an explanation,” he told the Star.
Some 1.6 million candidates with six the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education and Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education exams.
KCPE is set to begin on October 30, a day after the rehearsals while KCSE theory examination will start on November 5.
Form Four candidate taking German, French Arabic and Home Science are sitting the practicals examination which end on November 1.
President Uhuru Kenyatta had earlier promised that all candidates will join respective secondary schools.
The Education ministry had earlier lowered college entry grades for teachers to D+, a move that has been defended by Education CS, Amina Mohammed.
Education Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed had earlier defended the government’s decision to lower grades for students enrolling to teacher training colleges.
Ms Mohamed explained on Tuesday that the decision was based on the affirmative action law that is covered in the Constitution.
The CS noted that regional differences make it impossible to gauge all students the same way, hence the need for equity, which she said will not affect the quality of education.
Therefore, she said, learners in some regions will require D+s and others C-s for certificate and diploma courses.