KNEC yet to pay 200,000 for managing last year's exams

KNUT Secretary General Wilson Sossion (centre) presents a book on special needs' learners in public primary schools to National Chairperson, Special Schools Heads Association of Kenya (SSHAK) Arthur Injenga during a SSHAK conference in Nairobi. KNEC is under pressure to pay all the 200,000 individuals contracted for last year's examinations to avoid hiccups in administration of the tests in November.  (PHOTO: DAVID GICHURU/ STANDARD)

The national examiner is under pressure to pay all the 200,000 individuals contracted for last year's examinations to avoid hiccups in administration of the tests in November.

And yesterday, President Uhuru Kenyatta signed into law a Bill that effectively reintroduces ranking of schools and candidates during the release of Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education and Kenya Certificate of Primary Education exam results.

The Kenya National Examination Council (Amendment) Bill requires that besides ranking based on academic excellence, performance of schools in activities outside the classroom (co-curricular activities) will be measured and ranked.

The development came as it emerged that only a fraction of the contracted professionals had been paid in full, with calls from teachers' unions to Knec to pay up.

Sources at the council said more than 12,000 teachers hired to supervise and invigilate last year's tests were still waiting for their payment.

Some Sh1.2 billion was set aside to settle payments for supervisors, invigilators, security officers and drivers hired to oversee last year's exams.

Teachers who spoke to The Standard said explanations given by Knec ranged from lack of accurate data to recruitment of excess staff.

"We have received many complaints from our members and what they tell us is that Knec said they had not submitted the correct phone numbers for mobile payments," said Akelo Misori, the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) secretary general.

Knec acting chief executive officer Mercy Karogo yesterday failed to clarify the total number of staff paid so far.

By the time of going to press, Ms Karogo had only said: "I am in a meeting. Let me ask them then I get back to you." Follow-up phone calls went unanswered.

Official explanation from Knec on why some of the contracted staff had not been paid was also not available.

A Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) official yesterday said Nairobi County was the most affected, with 1,200 teachers still waiting for payment.

Other regions are Kiambu, Nairobi, Coast and Nyanza.

"The response Knec gives is that more staff were recruited against the required number. For instance, in every centre there were two or three extra staff hired, and that the extra persons will not be paid," said Macharia Mugwe, the Knut Nairobi branch executive secretary.

Data from Knec shows 191,555 contracted personnel were engaged during the administration of the 2015 KCPE and KCSE.

Of these, 119,929 persons – supervisors, invigilators, security officers and drivers – were engaged during administrations of KCPE alone.

Another 5,630 examiners were involved in the marking of the English Composition, Kiswahili Insha and Kenyan Sign Language Composition.

The 2015 KCPE examination was administered between November 10 and 12 last year.

charity work

And for KCSE, some 51,717 professionals were contracted. Of these, 8,845 were supervisors, 30,334 invigilators, 10,376 security officers and 2,162 drivers.

The marking of the Form Four examinations was done between December 2 and 24 last year, with some 14,279 examiners engaged across 28 marking centres.

Mr Misori yesterday urged Knec to honour all the payments because services had been rendered.

"Knec has no justification to withhold payment for those who performed duties. Teachers cannot do charity work. They cannot be victims of a fatigued system. Withholding pay means the system needs more reform," said Misori.

Knut Secretary General Wilson Sossion said the union continued to receive complaints from teachers who had not been paid.

"It is in the best interest of Knec to pay these teachers because they will need them for this year's exercise," said Mr Sossion.

A circular released recently by Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i said Knec would appoint school principals and head teachers to be in charge of their examination centres.

He said the principals and head teachers would be assisted by "carefully selected supervisors".

The CS said Knec would identify senior officials and responsible teachers to be supervisors and invigilators.

"Together with school boards of management, these officials will take full responsibility and accountability for any exam malpractices that may be reported in their centres," said Matiang'i.

Meanwhile, the High Court has declined to take away the role of appointing and transferring school heads from the Teachers Service Commission to boards of management.