Busia County Director of Education (CDE) James Ekalio has given his assurance that there will be no room for exam malpractice as the county has embraced a multi-agency team in supervisory of the exercise to guard against any incident exam leakage.
Speaking at Amagoro during the opening of morning exams, Ekalio noted that they are keenly adhering to the laid down procedure on phone use, while in exam centres to the number of people allowed in school during this exam period.
“We have embraced a multiagency approach in supervising these exams to ensure we give slim chances to cases of leakage. From the office of county commissioner, to security and education, we are jointly monitoring these exams to ensure we give no room for any malpractices,” he noted.
According to the director, all the 167 exam centers in Busia County are set for the exams with adequate measures in place to ensure fairness and all candidates are given equal opportunity to the best of their knowledge with 20,000 students in the county sitting for the national exams.
There are a total of 10,066 girls sitting for this year’s exams compared to 9,608 boys, a big plus for the girl child. In the private category, 173 boys are sitting for the exams compared to 153 girls.
Ekalio led the education team in opening the container for Teso North Sub County schools that has a student population of 3157 students, including 1577 boys and 1580 girls drawn from 31 centres.
The exams started in the morning with students sitting for English Paper One. They were due to sit for Chemistry Paper One in the afternoon.
The CDE noted that they are keenly adhering to the laid down procedures on the use of phones to the number of people allowed in school during this exam period.
He added: “All supervisors were trained on how to manage exams and minimize any exam malpractices. We also have security officers assigned to monitor exams, including County Commissioner, County Police Commandeer, all multiagency security teams, County Director, and sub county Education teams.
Meanwhile, KUPPET Busia County Executive Secretary Moffats Okisai has echoed similar sentiments noting that the exams should be devoid of any malpractices and the exam should supervisors accorded a conducive environment.
“Day scholars should avoid disco matanga, boy-girl relation, and any form of destruction during the exam period,” Okisai said.
The unionist urged KNEC to improve terms of service for teachers, noting that the Sh600 per day payment to the centre managers was a drop in the ocean.
He demanded fair honoraria for contracted Council officers. This should include improved terms of service during the marking of exams.
Those who witnessed the opening of the container included Deputy County Commissioner, Solomon Gitae, police boss Charles Chepkonga, his Deputy Nicholas Kibet, Sub County director of education, Elizabeth Marangach and all multiagency security officers from the sub county.
By Absalom Namwalo
