Kenya to train 53,000 teachers as examiners

Candidates at MM Shah Primary School in Kisumu tackle KCPE Mathematics paper on November 10 2015. (Photo: Collins Oduor/Standard)

Teachers are set to be trained as examiners as the Government moves to boost credibility of national exams.

In a notice, the Kenya National Examination Council (Knec) has asked all schools to nominate two teachers each to apply for the training set to start on August 14 and run until 27.

This means from the more than 22,000 public primary schools and about 4,500 public secondary schools, Knec will train about 53,000 new examiners for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education and Kenya Certificate of Primary Education exams.

In the new set of rules, Knec put the upper age limit for examiners at 50 years and the individuals must not be on interdiction or any other form of punishment by the employer.

"Teachers who have already been trained as examiners and are already in the Knec examiners' database need not apply for the training," the notice partly read.

Successful applicants will be incorporated in the examinations agency's database.

"Knec will thereafter engage only such teachers from the database as per the criteria of appointment of examiners as need be from time to time," Knec said.

The recruitment comes with new requirements that potential examiners be practising teachers in the relevant subject area and employees of the Government.

"They need to have a minimum experience of three years, minimum qualification of P1 for KCPE examination marking with minimum of C (plain) at KCSE level in the subject they are applying to train and mark," Knec outlined.

KCSE examiners will also be required to at least have a Diploma in Education (and above) to meet the new threshold.

"Also, all teachers applying must be recommended by their school heads," Knec said.