This archive report was first published on 28 December 2019.
Published on December 28, 2019, a tragic incident at Loreto High School in Limuru highlighted the risks of work pressure faced by teachers marking national exams in Kenya. A Kiongwani Secondary School teacher collapsed and died while marking chemistry papers in 2017.
Similar incidents have been reported in the past, including the death of a Tusunini Primary School teacher who died while being treated at PCEA Kikuyu Mission Hospital after being taken ill after two days marking the KCPE 2019 exams. The cause of death was attributed to 'strenuous work in examination centres.'
These incidents have raised concerns about the impact of haste and overstretching on the quality of exam results and the health of teachers involved. The recent case of Valine Nabumbo Kakai, a former student at Alliance Girls High School, who was initially awarded 70 points (B+) but later corrected to 82 points (A plain) after her 12 points in history subject were added, highlights the need for a re-examination of the modalities of exam marking.
Experts argue that the current marking system is flawed and in need of reform. They point to the evidence of haste and overstretching during the exercise, which can have adverse effects on the quality of exam results and the health of teachers involved. A thorough evaluation of the procedures, workforce allotment versus work load, time allowed, and proof-checking mechanisms is necessary to come up with an optimal marking system that guarantees quality results and the health of teachers involved.
For KCPE, examination results determine which secondary schools pupils attend, whether they are eligible for scholarships, and can be a motivating or demotivating factor for future performance. For KCSE, it is all about how career paths are shaped. The Kenya Universities and College Placements Service has set the bar high for students wishing to study careers like medicine, engineering, law, actuarial science, and architecture.
It is imperative that the Kenya National Examination Council ensures that no student is short-changed and that no marker is exposed to fatigue and other unhealthy conditions in the name of hurrying to finish marking exams. The entire system must be probed and every anomaly fixed to ensure a transparent and friendly examination system.
