At least ten mobile phones were recovered by police during a thorough search at Waa Boys High School, as part of ongoing measures to ensure the integrity of the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations. Kwale County Education Director, Ahmed Mohammed, confirmed the discovery, emphasizing that the incident did not affect the examination process.
The mobile phones were found after a careful inspection of the examination centre. Initially, three students were discovered in possession of mobile phones. However, following an extensive search conducted by authorities, an additional six phones were recovered. The incident has raised concerns over the methods used to prevent cheating during exams and the responsibility of both students and invigilators in maintaining the sanctity of the exam process.
“The search was part of the routine measures we have been taking across the county to ensure that the exams are conducted fairly. At first, we found three boys with mobile phones, but after conducting a more thorough check, we recovered six more,” said Mohammed. He went on to assure the public that the examination’s integrity was not compromised, as the issue was swiftly handled without disrupting the exam schedule.
The mobile phones were immediately handed over to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), which has since launched an inquiry into the matter. Mohammed criticized the invigilators for failing to thoroughly frisk the students, pointing out that if proper procedures had been followed, this incident could have been avoided.
“I would say the students are innocent because if they had been properly frisked and instructed not to bring phones, this whole situation could have been avoided,” Mohammed stated. He further noted that the matter was being treated seriously, with invigilators themselves under investigation. Appropriate actions would be taken against those found guilty of negligence.
The Education Director explained that in response to this situation, invigilators have been reshuffled. Male invigilators have been reassigned to boys’ schools, while female invigilators are now assigned to girls’ schools. This decision follows reports that some students were exploiting the presence of opposite-gender invigilators to conceal mobile phones in private areas, knowing that they would be less thoroughly searched.
This practice of exploiting gender-based invigilator assignments is a serious concern, as it highlights potential loopholes in the security measures intended to prevent cheating. By hiding phones in private body parts, students can bypass security checks if the invigilators are not the same gender, a situation that could undermine the fairness of the exams.
To address this issue, the reshuffling of invigilators is intended to ensure that all students are equally scrutinized and that no one is able to manipulate the system. The new approach also aims to provide a more rigorous and uniform examination process that protects both students and the integrity of the exams.
Despite the challenges presented by these incidents, Mohammed reassured the public that the authorities are fully committed to safeguarding the integrity of the national exams. He emphasized that all stakeholders, including the Ministry of Education, the police, and other relevant authorities, are working together to ensure a fair and transparent examination process.
“We want to reassure the public that there is no cause for alarm. All measures are in place to guarantee that the exams will be fair, and we are confident that the investigations will resolve the matter swiftly,” said Mohammed.
In conclusion, while the discovery of mobile phones at Waa Boys High School during the KCSE exams raises important questions about the security protocols in place, the authorities’ quick response underscores their commitment to maintaining the integrity of the examination process. The reshuffling of invigilators and the ongoing investigations into the matter signal that any lapses in duty will be addressed, ensuring that the focus remains on providing a fair and credible exam for all candidates.
