Shock as 23 pupils in Eldoret sit fake KPSEA tests in unregistered school
The Silver Bells Academy case has been handed over to the Ministry of Education and KNEC for further action.
Twenty-three pupils of Silver Bells Academy in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County, are in shock after it emerged they unknowingly sat fake Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) exams.
The private institution, operating without registration from the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC), is under investigation, with two school directors already arrested over the incident.
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Moiben Deputy County Commissioner Duncan Okwach disclosed on Wednesday that the school was not listed with the KNEC, nor were its candidates formally registered for the assessment.
He noted that the alarming situation came to light following a report from a concerned parent.
"Yesterday evening, one parent came to report suspicious activities in the school. The parent observed that candidates started sitting the exams late and thought that something was not right," Okwach said.
He explained that upon investigating the next day, authorities discovered that the school was administering fake KPSEA exams and that the students were given photocopied exam papers.
Following the investigation, police arrested the school’s director and principal.
Uasin Gishu County Police Commander Benjamin Mwanthi said the two suspects would undergo further interrogation to determine the extent of their involvement in the administration of fake exams
"We have arrested the director and the principal over exam malpractices and operating the school illegally," Mwanthi said.
He added that Silver Bells Academy, which has an enrolment of 279 learners, was found to be operating without approval from the Ministry of Education and in poor conditions, prompting the potential closure of the institution.
The KPSEA exams are a key assessment for Grade 6 pupils, aligning with Kenya’s Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), which aims to evaluate not only academic understanding in subjects such as Mathematics, English, and Science but also essential skills like critical thinking and communication.
The assessment is also designed to ensure a seamless transition to Junior Secondary School. However, without officially recognised KPSEA results, the future of the 23 affected students remains uncertain.
This year’s assessment, the third under the CBC, was to run from Monday, October 28 and end today on Wednesday, October 30, covering a range of subjects aimed at gauging students' understanding and application of essential skills.
The Silver Bells Academy case has been handed over to the Ministry of Education and KNEC for further action.
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