School heads, boards to be held accountable for cheating Matiangi

Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has announced that school heads and boards of management will be held accountable for exam irregularities in their schools.

Speaking during Kigumo’s sub-County education day, Matiang’i said that the ministry, in consultation with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), had resolved to table legislation in Parliament containing new guidelines that seek to streamline the education sector.

“When irregularities occur in a school someone must take responsibility. We will go deep and reorganise management. We want a situation where no one questions the integrity of the tests and measure systems of our country as it is embarrassing,” he said.

He warned that exam officials found to have been involved in exam malpractice that the law would soon catch up with them.

He further revealed that plans were underway to vet senior management of the council with the support of relevant security agencies to ensure the right people are entranced with deliverance in the education sector.

Kenya Union of Post Primary Teachers (KUPPET) secretary-general Akello Misori welcomed the government’s move of disbanding the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC), saying that it was aimed at restoring the education system.

KNEC has been on the spot over massive exam leakage during last year’s exams, with fingers pointing at the council’s officers both at the county and head office in Nairobi.

Nine officials of the board including the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr. Joseph Kivilu have been ordered to record statements over the matter.

According to reports, last year the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education was marred by irregularities with cases of exam leakages being reported, and exam papers being sold to students.