Sufficient KNEC Funding is Key to Improving Exam Administration,Sossion tells
Sufficient KNEC Funding is Key to Improving Exam Administration,Sossion tells. The continuing discussion regarding how Kenyan national exams are conducted is a worthwhile one that is posing significant issues. Former Kenya National Union of Teachers secretary-general Mr. Sossion contends that career educators alone should be in charge of these conversations since they are more qualified to offer knowledgeable insight into this important aspect of teaching and learning.
In order to maintain educational standards and ensure that students are fairly assessed on their knowledge, abilities, competencies, and attitudes, national examination organizations are essential. These organizations are in charge of creating and carrying out standardized tests and exams as well as determining the level of students’ learning and proficiency.
To ensure that the process is trustworthy, they must maintain a firm hold on the administration of exams through effective systems for controlling exams, tests, and evaluations.
To improve Kenya’s reputation in the field of international education, however, a study sent to the Departmental Committee for Education and Research states that much groundwork and justification must be done.
Kenya’s quality pass percentage in the 2022 KCSE exam was 19.62%, which is lower than the pass rates in comparable exams in nearby nations like Uganda, Tanzania, and Zambia. These alarming numbers prompt important inquiries about why Kenyan pupils’ academic achievement is still at the bottom of the heap.
The necessity to effectively fund the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) is one area of concern. Since 2016, KNEC’s funding has not kept pace with the rise of applicants, requiring the council to conduct exams in a financially precarious setting.
Increased applicant numbers without a proportional rise in funding have the unintended consequences of clogged marking centers, unwelcoming pay, subpar lodging and food, and higher examiner turnover rates. A larger budgetary allocation would significantly help to solve this ongoing issue.
The reporting of higher mean results by candidates or schools is not punishable under international best assessment practice. Thus, the results for the suspected candidates should be made public without restriction if there is insufficient proof that they received an unfair advantage during the administration of the exam.
It is a general truth that all candidates should be treated equally while scoring a test. The benefit of the doubt is given precedence when there is a discrepancy in a candidate’s findings and there is a lack of strong evidence to convict the suspected candidate, hence the candidate is exonerated.
However, it’s critical for applicants to recognize the value of academic honesty and accept accountability for their actions. In addition, KNEC ought to be courteous enough to refrain from ruining a student’s future prospects over a simple mistake.
Parents and educators need to have a serious discussion about how the national examination bodies’ involvement can have a big impact on the quality of education and the academic achievement of pupils.
Finally, it should be noted that the administration of national exams and assessments is a crucial component of teaching and learning that calls for the expertise of career educators. In order to maintain educational standards and ensure that students are fairly assessed on their knowledge, abilities, competencies, and attitudes, national examination organizations are essential.
In order to ensure the credibility of the entire process, these agencies must maintain a firm grip on the administration of exams through effective regulatory measures. The ongoing issues of marking center overcrowding, unwelcoming compensation, subpar accommodations and meals, and higher examiner turnover rates must be addressed with enough financing.
The function of national examination organizations can have a considerable impact on the quality of education and the academic success of kids, so parents and educators need to have a serious discussion about this.