Eight private candidates from Garissa County were on Monday barred from sitting for the ongoing Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations.
This is after the eight candidates allegedly breached exam regulations by arriving at Shurie secondary school in Ijara sub-county, Garissa County late.
Confirming the incident, sub-county director of education Ibrahim Odowa said the eight girls were not allowed into the examination room after failing to arrive on time.
Reports indicate that the candidates arrived at the school almost half an hour after the paper had started.
“By failing to observe punctuality, the candidates showed lack of seriousness and in the process broke the Kenya National Examination Council rules,” said Odowa.
The sub-county director warned the candidates in the area from arriving late to sit for their exam papers saying they should observe punctuality as the national exams continue.
Area elders had tried to intervene in the matter by appealing to the centre manager and invigilators to allow the eight candidates in the exam room.
The elders tried but in vain to have the candidates sit for the paper for the remainder of the time.
North Eastern regional commissioner Mohamed Birik during the start of the KCSE exams said they have put measures in place to ensure that there is no exam irregularities after the region had the highest cancellation rates during last year’s national exams.