This archive report was first published on 24 August 2020.
Kenya: Kasneb Shifts Gears on Exams, Eyes Flexibility and Online Options ¶
Published on August 24, 2020
Kasneb, the professional accounting examiner, is proposing a major shift in its examination strategy. For decades, it has been offering professional exams twice every year, in May and November. However, it is shifting gears, planning to offer exams three times a year and eventually four times, making programs more flexible and enabling students to obtain qualifications within a relatively shorter time.
This transition is part of Kasneb's efforts to adapt to the changing landscape of higher education and the industry, influenced by the Covid-19 pandemic. The organisation is working on a plan to offer online examinations that would be available to candidates any time during the year, starting with certificate courses before advancing to diploma and ultimately professional qualifications.
According to Dr. Nicholas Letting, the chief executive of Kasneb, the organisation is working with telecommunication and technology companies to host and support the administration of the online tests. While Kasneb would set the exams, the administration would be done through these companies.
The shift to online exams is aimed at eliminating backlog and providing candidates with a more flexible route to acquiring professional qualifications. Kasneb suspended its May exams due to the Covid-19 pandemic but is working on a plan to offer them in November or early December, with a survey among students to establish those who are ready and have the resources to do the exams online.
Dr. Letting emphasized that the organisation is putting a lot of emphasis on quality, regularly monitoring how its accredited institutions offer teaching and learning programs. Kasneb is also adapting to the competency-based education (CBE) model of learning, which focuses on what students learn and competencies gained as opposed to credit hours attained.
The organisation has entered into partnership with the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) to select and place students into its programs, making it easier for learners to secure funding to pursue courses of their choice.
