Activists Sue to Stop KCSE & From Taking Place
Activists Sue to Stop KCSE & From Taking Place
Activists Sue to Stop KCSE & From Taking Place
A lawsuit has been filed by the Elimu Bora Working Group (EBWG) and the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) to prevent the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) from holding national exams.
The campaigners demanded that the government agencies stop testing applicants at both levels until the results of the 2023 Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) and Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) were audited in a notification that was made public on Wednesday, February 14.
In addition, the two organizations requested that KNEC and Education Cabinet Secretary CS Ezekiel Machogu carry out an audit and make the results available to the general public. “KNEC’s handling of the KCPE examinations 2023 results cast a shadow of doubt, and created uncertainty amongst the general public, on their ability,” the petitioners said.
The advocacy organizations said that the exam authority had failed the public due to the inconsistencies noted, citing those noted during the results of the 2023 national exams. KHRC went on to say that KNEC’s ignorance in not responding to the group’s request for the rules and procedures governing exam marking in the system was what sparked the lawsuit.
“Currently, the KNEC’s grading process is unclear. Reports indicate that KNEC provides markers with predetermined targets, pushing them to assess a high volume of papers, a practice that may compromise the quality of results,” the petitioners noted.
According to the court document, the petitioners requested that the audit include the exam marking process, award of marks, the moderation process, the results compilation and the results review.
The petitioners further demanded that KNEC and CS Machogu submit the audit in 90 days, pending the determination of the case.
“Suppose the court compels KNEC and Education CS to do the audit and fail. In that case, the petitioners want an order prohibiting them from setting and conducting any KCSE examinations, including issuing KCSE examination results and certificates,” the activists added.
Some students questioned anomalies in their results, including different grades, in the 2023 KCSE results. Schools in Migori County, such as Oruba Boys, became vocal about the need to criticize the tests after most of the kids received D grades. When principals at other schools were ejected for giving low grades, the Ministry of Education had to step in and defend the instructors.