This archive report was first published on 8 December 2019.
Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examiners have been working under harsh conditions, with protests by teachers shedding light on the poor treatment they receive.
According to Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha, examiners are required to work long hours, with some markers working up to 16 hours a day, and are only allowed to access their mobile phones late at night or at dawn.
Examiners are also banned from using mobile phones in the marking halls, and are only allowed to access them outside of work hours. This has led to experienced examiners shunning the exercise.
Despite the challenges, examiners are paid a meager Sh46 per script, with some markers complaining of poor pay and accommodation. The Kenya National Examinations Council (Knec) has raised the amount to Sh52 per script, but examiners are still unhappy with the conditions.
Teachers have been protesting the poor working conditions, with some going on a go-slow to demand better pay. The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) has also called for a crisis meeting with Knec to address the teachers' grievances.
Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha has stated that the government is committed to releasing the results before Christmas, but the poor working conditions of examiners have raised concerns about the credibility of the results.
