University Student Alters Transcripts From F’s To Straight A’s For Ksh630,000 Scholarship

By Tabitha Makumi,

It’s around that time of the year when University students and their college counterparts sit for end of semester exams and just as “tradition” dictates in these learning institutions, cheating is always bound to take place.

“Most of us do not want to risk a re-sit which are getting expensive by the day,” admits a Public University third year IT student who agreed to comment on anonymity. He adds, “Of course most of us are prepared… but just in case it (exams) gets worse, you have to walk to the exam room ‘extra prepared’.”

In an almost similar story that has been trending for the better part of the week, a former University Student took cheating to a whole new level.

Jacob Mahonri Espinal, a former student of Brigham Young University is reported by Associated Press to have altered his college transcripts from an F scholar to an A student in order to get a Ksh630,000 scholarship

How did he do it? It turns out he was working as a student employee at the said university; an opportunity that afforded him the access to the documents in where he was able to make the “necessary” changes.

The 24 year old has since remained in jail after being charged with computer fraud and grand theft

What a shame, he would have made such a fine politician or banker read one comment on CBS News while another agreed, “Ahhhhhh, a future politician! “A” for effort though!” while yet another shared, “And in two years he would be an investment banker.”

Would you go to such lengths of altering your documents, say give yourself a “Distinction” to replace that agonizing “Pass”?

“I think it’s worse in Kenya. You’ve seen people in public offices with fake degrees let alone altering a transcript,” says Janet Mundia a teller in one of the leading banks in Kenya.

“While I was in campus, Mwakenya’s were the order of the day. You had to be very clever with it or else have the whole exam would be cancelled once caught.”

Did she cheat herself?

“Only during Continuous Assessment Tests. I was too scared to have one during the main exam,” she says.

Jeremiah Mwathi a recent graduate however detests those who cheat.

“It’s unfair to those who have fully prepared for the exams. Why should I be at the same level with a person who parties all semester long and never bothers to study?” he poses

“If I was sure I wouldn’t get caught, I would have changed my KCSE grade just like that University Student,” confesses Anne Wathithi

She adds, “This means my CV would improve tremendously and maybe, just maybe, employers would quit ignoring my applications,” says Ednah Oyugi who sincerely believes the reason why she hasn’t landed a job yet is because of that glaring D- KCSE mean grade.

What’s your take on this…..To cheat or not to cheat ?

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