Raila reprimands Gov’t on Exam integrity, Reveals cause of Errors in KCPE 2023 Results
Raila Reprimands Gov’t on Exam Integrity: Speaking at a press conference in Nairobi on Wednesday, Opposition leader, Raila Odinga highlighted that if the credibility of Kenya’s national examinations is questioned, then chances of getting opportunities outside, are at large compromised.
On his part, Raila suggested that a taskforce should be put in place, to focus on irregularities that continue to engulf national examinations despite the management strategies that have been put in place.
He stated,”We will be subjecting our children to ridicule, diminish their employment especially oversee if we allow the integrity of our exams and certification to be questionable. The education sector does not belong to the government of the day. It belongs to all Kenyans. For the sake of our children, the government should do better.”
Raila further cited that Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examination results released on Thursday, November 23, 2023, by Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu, were altered in the initial stages of printing of exam papers.
Raila revealed that the government had cancelled the contract given to a United Kingdom-based firm in favour of a Mombasa Road-based firm after failure to bribe the government.
Raila stated,”We’ve established that early this year the government abruptly stopped this contract because the UK company refused to give kickbacks. Without following any legal process, the KK awarded the KCPE contract to a politically connected local company based in Mombasa Road in Nairobi,”
“The government was advised that the local company could not print the exams and ensure its security, especially on short notice. Nobody would budge because there were kickbacks involved,” he added.
Notably, Raila revealed that the company was made to outsource from a company based in India for the exam papers to be printed in a hurry to meet the deadlines.
He stated,”We are also aware that the UK firm declined to provide codes to the many layers of security that had been encrypted to safeguard the integrity of national exams. We believe this process is responsible for the disaster witnessed in the KCPE results,”
Raila added; Grades in science, social studies, and religious studies were truncated. The rollout saw KCPE candidates get graded in subjects they never sat for. The system deployed could not produce the plus and minus signs; what a shame,”
“We have written to 13 key education stakeholders including religious organizations and DCI for a partnership to secure and defend the integrity of Kenyan national exams.”
Also read KEBS now Changes Tune, says Oil consignment met all health and safety provisions