Education

Rights bodies file suit to stop national exams until results are audited

Education PS Belio Kipsang and CS Ezekiel Machogu during the release of the 2023 KCSE exam results at Moi Girls High School, Eldoret, on January 8, 2024. (Photo: Education ministry)

By Mary Wambui | Wednesday, February 14, 2024

The petitioners allege widespread irregularities in last year's results that they claim saw KCPE candidates receive conflicting results on November 23 last year.

The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) and Elimu Bora Working Group (EBWG) have filed a suit seeking to have last year's national examinations audited.

In a suit filed in court, the two groups want the court to stop this year's national examinations until the 2023 KCPE and KCSE results are forensically audited by the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) and the findings shared publicly.

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The petitioners allege widespread irregularities in last year's results that they claim saw KCPE candidates receive conflicting results on November 23 last year.

"KNEC's handling and/or release of the KCPE examinations 2023 results cast a shadow of doubt, and/or created uncertainty amongst the general public, on the ability (or otherwise capability) of KNEC to discharge the respective mandate of its office as spelt out in the law and the Constitution," the petitioners say.

They said that KNEC's mishandling of exams subjected the quality of Kenyan children's learning and assessment to global scrutiny and shame and raised suspicions about learners' quality and diminished opportunities for them worldwide.

The petitioners want the forensic audit to include the process of marking, award of marks, moderation process, compilation, verification, and review of the results.

The petitioners moved to court after making a failed attempt to have KNEC disclose its marking policy and guidelines.

Also sought was the module of awarding marks, and the moderation process involved in the compiling, verifying, reviewing and reporting examination results.

They further requested a detailed audit of the examination process as well as statements and reports on public participation and stakeholder input in formulating the policies and guidelines.

"The lack of such clarity and transparency makes the process of grading opaque and KNEC unaccountable," a joint statement by the petitioners says.

KNEC will have 90 days to conduct the audit if the court rules in favour of the petitioners.

"In the event the court compels KNEC and the Education Cabinet Secretary to do the audit and fail, we will seek an order prohibiting them from setting and conducting any KCSE examinations including issuing KCSE examinations results and certificates," the petitioners added.