KNEC Promises Fair Assessment And Grading.
The Kenya National Examinations Council (Knec) has promised the 2.5 million candidates who will begin taking national exams next week that the assessment will be fair and that students will be graded fairly.
In an open letter to candidates, David Njengere, chief executive officer of the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC), warned that the exams will be rigorously monitored to prevent cheating, and those caught will have their results voided.
In a letter dated 1 November, Mr. Njengere warned students not to be misled by teachers or parents into engaging in examinations fraud.
“Every year, a few candidates get their examination results cancelled because of cheating. It is sad for a student to miss their examination results after learning for several years.
However, no examination results can be given to a candidate who has cheated. Examination results are only given for a candidate’s own honest effort,” he said.
Today, there will be rehearsals for 1,244,188 Kenya Certificate of Primary Education candidates and 1,287,597 Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) candidates. Exams will run from Monday, November 28 through Wednesday, November 30.
Between December 2 and December 23, another 884,263 candidates will sit for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Examination (KCSE).
The first cohort of students enrolled in the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) will take the inaugural KPSEA, while the second-to-last group of students enrolled in the 8-4-4 system will take the KCPE.
For the KCPE, candidates will devote two hours to Mathematics on Day One. They will also take the English language exam, followed by the Composition exam after a brief break.
Science, Kiswahili Lugha, and Kiswahili Insha examinations will be administered on Tuesday; Art and Craft, Music, and Religious Education examinations will be administered on the final day.
Candidates for the KPSEA will first take the Mathematics section, followed by the English section.
Tuesday will begin with integrated science (Science and Technology, Agriculture, Home Science, and Physical Health Education), followed by the Kiswahili examination.
They will take exams in Creative Arts and Social Studies on Wednesday.
In his letter, Dr. Njengere informed the candidates that the council has devised methods for detecting exam cheating.
“Knec is committed to making examinations fair for all candidates and has diverse and accurate methods of detecting those candidates who cheat during examinations.
Candidates who cheat or are impersonated cannot be given examination results,” he said.
He reminded the candidates that cheating would result in severe punishments and urged them to report any incidents to the examinations board.
“Cheating will not help you. In fact, should anyone try to make you cheat or should you know of any other candidate involved in this bad practice, you must report this immediately.
You are required to thoroughly read the last page of your examination timetable under the heading ‘penalty for examination irregularities’.”
Knec has already instructed supervisors, invigilators, and candidates to strictly adhere to the time limit and ensure that no exam papers are opened before the allotted time.
The time allotted for each paper is listed next to the paper’s title, and no additional time is permitted.
The instructions state that supervisors and proctors must ensure that candidates are provided with personalized score sheets bearing their correct names and assessment numbers.
In a previous communication, Teachers Service Commission Chief Executive Officer Nancy Macharia directed that one invigilator be responsible for 20 candidates and one supervisor for 200 students.
Ready For Exams
The County Director of Education (CDE) for Tharaka Nithi, Bridget Wambua, has disclosed that the county is well-prepared and ready for the upcoming national examinations.
The Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) and Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) will begin between November 28 and November 31, while the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) will begin between November 21 and December 23 with the English paper.
She disclosed that some secondary school practical examinations have already begun as of Monday, November 21.
The County Director of Education informed the media that all stakeholders involved in administering the examinations have been trained and are prepared for the task.
“We have already briefed and trained center managers, supervisors and invigilators who will be involved in conducting the examinations,” she said.
Wambua revealed that there are 492 KPSEA centers, 430 KCPE centers, 159 KCSE centers, and 10 adult centers throughout the county.
The CDE found that there is a similar education gap between boys and girls, with only a slight difference on all exams, an improvement from previous years.
The total number of candidates taking exams in the county is 36,880, with 11,458 sitting for the KPSEA, 12,773 for the KCPE, 12,580 for the KCSE, and 72 from the Adult Centre.
She assured that the government has taken the necessary precautions to ensure there is no exam cheating. She cautioned students against attempting to access exam materials for answers prior to examinations.
“What you have learnt so far is enough, believe in yourself and do whatever you can, we will take serious action on those who will be found cheating,” she said.
Wambua instructed exam monitors to be extremely vigilant and to not tolerate any form of cheating.
She urged parents, particularly those of day-scholars, to be cooperative and ensure that their children submit their papers on time.
“Parents should ensure the students are well fed and have had enough sleep to enable them start the exams on a good note,” she said.
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