The Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) written examinations begin tomorrow.
Candidates start with English paper one and Chemistry paper one.
They will then sit mathematics paper one and English comprehension.
Practical examinations and oral tests for French, German, Arabic and Kenya sign languages began on February 28.
A total of 831,015 candidates registered for the examination to be administered at 10,413 centres.
Last year, some 752,981 students sat the papers at 10,437 stations.
The number has increased by 78,034 this year, a 9.39 per cent rise.
The examination papers and other materials will be served from 483 distribution centres.
Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha warned teachers and candidates against cheating and other malpractices during the tests.
“I urge teachers involved in the administration of the Form Four national examination not to be tempted to use phones or cheat,” Prof Magoha said.
The Kenya National Examinations Council (Knec) released guidelines on the administration of the tests.
In the guidelines released by Knec Chief Executive David Njengere, schools must upload marks for the subjects with a project by January 31.
Examination malpractices
To curb cheating and other malpractices, Dr Njengere said candidates would not be allowed to leave the exam room before the end of the period allocated to the paper, except with special permission from supervisors.
There will be no communication in the examination room and neither will outsiders be allowed into the center during the tests.
Cases of university students impersonating KCSE examination candidates have been recorded in the past.
Last year, some 27 officials were relieved of their duties as centre managers, supervisors or invigilators over allegations of violating rules on the administration of the examinations.
Some 37 civilians, including three university students and two businessmen, were arrested for assisting in irregularities.
Fifty-three cell phones were confiscated from candidates.
Those arrested were accused of opening examination materials before time and sharing the information with students through social media.
“Any misconduct or causing of disturbance in or near the examination room will be treated as an irregularity,” the guidelines read.
“For practical papers to be taken in shifts, candidates taking the examination must avail themselves for confinement. Any candidate who does not present him/herself for confinement will have committed an examination irregularity.”
Dr Njengere also warned candidates against using cell phones and other electronic communication devices.
Those found with them will have their results cancelled.
Magoha on Exam Cheating
Last week during the commissioning of Competency Based Curriculum classrooms at Star of the Sea Girls’ Secondary School,Mombasa Education CS George Magoha disclosed that Telegram application was being used in examination irregularities.
“It is regrettable to say that the examination cartels are very active on something called Telegram. We are actually watching closely,” he said.
Magoha said they usually encounter cheating problems during the second paper of every subject.
I want to warn those few centre managers who will be tempted to open the papers and share it on Telegram that we are waiting for you. If you don’t love your career and your life, then attempt it,” he said.
