Country’s examination body, the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC), has refused to give reasons for cancelling some of the invites for marking the 2024 KCSE, saying the justifications are ‘confidential’.
This comes after uproar from Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) branch officials led by Vihiga Executive Secretary Sabala Inyeni, who complained bitterly that it was unfair considering that some of the markers received the communication when they had already reported for the national exercise.
KNEC told Education News yesterday that marking of the examination is a confidential exercise and it reserves the right to invite whoever they wish for that exercise, confirming that it is true some examiners’ invitations were revoked through text messages that gave no reasons.
According to KNEC, since marking is a confidential exercise, they cannot reveal the details of examiners taking part in the process, dismissing claims that those rejected came from schools that are suspected to have been involved in exam malpractices.
“Marking of exams is a confidential process and KNEC may not disclose identities of the examiners. KNEC undertakes due diligence in inviting examiners to ensure reliability and credibility of the process,” KNEC CEO Dr David Njengere told Education News.
Inyeni had protested the move stating that teachers should not be ‘sacrificed without enough evidence’.
He added that most of the affected examiners were never involved in the administration of the KCSE examination following the directive that all marking centres are out of bounds to non-KNEC-contracted officials.
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“We are aware KNEC is very desperate to sanitize itself so as to reclaim their lost glory. Unfortunately they are doing this in a very erratic manner and with clear contravention of the standard rules of natural justice,” said Inyeni.
“A teacher closed school last month and went home to be with his family. This teacher is waiting to report to the marking centre this week, only to wake up and learn that his centre was involved in exam malpractice, and therefore, he stands barred from taking up this national duty. What exact offence has this teacher committed?” he wondered.
The same was supported by his Kisii and Kwale counterparts Joseph Abincha and Leonard Wajewa Oronje.
“We know that the mass retirement of examiners is simply one of the normal knee-jerk reactions by KNEC to run away from the truth while camouflaging its glaring ineptitude,” said Oronje.
By Roy Hezron
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