Tough exam rules meant to stamp out cheating are among the factors that have caused unrest in schools recently, according to Education Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed. The Education CS has outlined that the Ministry has mounted formidable measures to guarantee the integrity of exams and closed any avenues used in exam cheating, “Efforts to leak exams have failed completely,” she said, adding that in some cases students are put under pressure to be adequately prepared for exams.
Unrest in schools in the country has gone a notch higher, with school fires being witnessed in schools in different parts of the country. This has raised eyebrows, with Kenyans leaning in to know what the real cause is. The Education CS further revealed students’ reaction to last year’s cancellation of KCSE results is partly to blame, citing the case in Chalbi Boys High School where students attacked teachers. “Students attacked non-local teachers saying they were behind the cancellation of last year’s results,” said Amina.
Furthermore, she said disciplinary issues have also contributed to the unrest, and that the Education Ministry has stepped up surveillance, taken measures to ensure normal teaching and learning are resumed as quickly as possible in the affected schools. The CS is expected to visit the affected schools in Nyanza.