Necta warns against cheating as standard seven exams start today

The Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) is scheduled to be conducted from September 13 to September 14, 2023, involving Standard Seven students from a staggering 18,320 schools.

A total of 1,397,370 candidates have registered for the exam, comprising 654,652 boys (46.85 percent) and 742,718 girls (53.15 percent).

Among these candidates, 1,334,269 will sit for the exam in Kiswahili, while 63,101 will take the test in the English language, which has been the medium of instruction for their studies.

Addressing the media, Dr Mohamed warned, “Every year during the conduct of these national exams, there have been people with evil intentions to commit fraud. Let me use this opportunity to warn them because legal action will be taken against them.”

The consequences of such actions are severe, including the cancellation of results for candidates, a three-year imprisonment for teachers and school owners, a 20-year imprisonment for examination administrators involved in cheating, and the possibility of examination centres being shut down.

Highlighting the need for vigilance, Dr Mohamed revealed past instances of misconduct during exams, stating, “For the year 2021, four centres were closed; in 2022, 25 centres, and 2000 students had their results canceled. For this year, we have also set up strategies throughout the country to get all the information about the conduct of this exam.”

Notably, candidates with special needs are part of this examination process, with 4,583 of them registered.

Among these candidates, 101 are blind, 1,321 are visually impaired, 1,125 are deaf, 549 are mentally disabled, and 1,487 are physically disabled.

The inclusion of these candidates underscores the country’s commitment to inclusive education.

The PSLE examination will encompass six subjects: Kiswahili, English Language, Science and Technology, Mathematics, Social Studies, and Vocational Skills and Civics.

With meticulous preparations in place, Dr Mohamed urged Regional Examination Committees and Councils to ensure the heightened security of all examination centres and strict adherence to Necta’s guidelines.

As the Standard Seven students embark on this critical examination, Necta’s warning serves as a stark reminder of the importance of maintaining the integrity of the examination process.

The authorities are leaving no stone unturned to thwart any attempts at cheating or fraud.

Dr Mohamed noted, “It is the collective responsibility of all stakeholders, including candidates, educators, and the community, to ensure a fair and honest examination that paves the way for a brighter future for the country’s workforce.”