The Kenya National Examinations Council (Knec) has revealed its strategic plans to enhance the efficiency of the examination process and provide swift compensation to contracted professionals. The primary goal is to motivate invigilators, supervisors, and other personnel engaged in national exams. By February 2023, Knec aims to clear all outstanding payments, offering timely compensation specifically for teachers’ pivotal roles. Additionally, recognition is extended to the contributions of security personnel and drivers in facilitating exam administration.
In the year 2022, a substantial 234,473 teachers actively participated in various capacities, including supervision, invigilation, center management, and marking. The examination landscape encompassed the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) with a total candidate count of 1,415,315. For the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA), an impressive 1,282,574 candidates were involved. Furthermore, over half a million students embarked on their educational journey through the rigorous assessment known as the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), with a daunting total enrollment exceeding nine hundred thousand.
The release of the KCPE results signifies Kenya’s full adoption of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) in primary schools, marking a significant milestone. Knec acknowledged examiners’ contributions by awarding certificates—a total of 5,755—in appreciation for their role in marking the KCPE English Sign Language Composition and Kiswahili Insha.
In contrast to delays in the previous year, Knec is committed to promptly compensating examiners this year. However, a standoff with KCSE examiners, represented by the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet), revolves around payment terms. Kuppet emphasizes the need for an allowance review, highlighting that improved service terms are crucial for enhancing examiner motivation during assessments.
The Education Committee’s report underscores the critical role of timely payments in addressing issues like examination malpractice. It identifies poor teacher remuneration as a contributing factor, emphasizing the crucial need for transparency within the examination process.
