NAIROBI: The management national examinations is set to improve as the examinations' council plans to move to a new multi-billion shilling building at the end of this month.
The Kenya National Examination Council's (Knec) Mtihani House in Nairobi's South C, has been under construction for the last 29 years.
Knec Chairperson Kabiru Kinyanjui said the building is now ready for occupation. "It has been a long journey but we shall finally move in by end month," he said.
Knec CEO Joseph Kivilu said management of examinations has been difficult as the council currently operates from different offices. The council currently operates from six different locations in the city paying Sh60 million in rent.
"Once we move to the new building we shall have total control and also enhance safeguards," he said.
Kivilu said most of the critical examination processes would be moved to the building.
The move is expected to reduce the cost of printing examinations, minimise the security risk and enhance confidentiality of the examinations. The council currently spends Sh300 million on printing national examinations.
AUTOMATE FUNCTIONS
"Management of national examinations is becoming increasingly difficult and costly under the current state of operations," he said.
Knec has two bases for examination administration. One is on Dennis Pritt Road, Nairobi, where primary and secondary school national examinations are released annually. Another office is situated in Industrial Area.
Test development is done in the National Bank Building, city centre and another office is situated in the National Housing Corporation building, which currently acts as the council's headquarters.
Knec also has offices at Ex-Telecom building and in South C.
The new building was intended to have a complex where printing of all council examination papers would be done and is expected to house the entire council secretariat.
Kivilu also outlined changes, which could substantially alter the way Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education and Kenya Certificate of Primary Education examinations are administered.
Knec is also considering automating some functions, he added.
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Meanwhile, Kivilu has asked for proper remuneration for his staff.
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