KNEC Examiners to Undergo Vetting By NIS
Nicholas Letting, CEO of the Kenya Accountants and Secretaries National Examinations Board (KASNEB), has proposed a series of measures to enhance the integrity of the examination process, particularly focusing on Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC). These measures are aimed at reducing cheating during national examinations.
One of Letting’s recommendations is to involve officers from the National Intelligence Service (NIS) in the vetting process of examiners before their employment. This covert involvement of NIS officers is intended to identify examination irregularities and cheating, thus ensuring a high level of integrity in the examination marking process.
In addition, Letting suggests the disabling of mobile networks in areas prone to cheating to minimize exam leakage through mobile phones. Benchmarking with successful examination bodies like KASNEB and HRMPEB is also advocated by Letting to enhance effective examination management.
Letting’s proposals also include the blacklisting of students who impersonate others, as a deterrent against such fraudulent practices in future exams. He stresses the need to embrace automation in examinations, particularly through computer-based exams, which would allow for real-time marking.
These recommendations were presented in a report by MP Julius Melly, Chairman of the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Education, following concerns about malpractices in the 2022 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations. These malpractices included collusion, mobile phone use, impersonation, unauthorized material smuggling, leakage, and plagiarism, among other techniques.
In response to these findings, the committee recommends a review of the existing legal framework to impose stiffer penalties for examination offenses and address new offenses related to Information Communication and Technology and social media platforms.
Also Read:Â Report Highlights How Cheating was Orchestrated in 2022 KCSE
Starting from the 2024/2025 examination cycle, the Teacher Service Commission (TSC) is encouraged to consider additional parameters like discipline, infrastructure development, co-curricular activities, and teachers’ personal development as part of the promotion requirements for teachers.
The committee also calls for increased funding to KNEC for the years 2024/2025 and beyond. This funding is intended to support essential activities, including competitive and timely remuneration of examiners, transportation of examination materials and personnel, and the provision of suitable accommodation for examiners at marking centers.
These financial resources will also facilitate the digitalization of the examination process, ensuring compliance with national examination administering guidelines and enhancing efficiency in examination management.
KNEC Examiners to Undergo Vetting By NIS
