There have been allegations against the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) that it has been reusing sixty percent of previous Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) and Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations.
KNEC needs to answer for its part in examining malpractices that have happened in Kenya over the years, says Dr. Purity Ngina of the Zizi Afrique Foundation.
She stated, "You will find that 60% of the questions on the KCPE and KCSE exams are repeated from prior years."
According to Ngina, this practice could benefit educational institutions that invest heavily in detailed analysis and memorization strategies.
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"The schools that are able to invest in people who can do the analysis do that, and they can be assured that if you do this and this, you are likely to have your learners get over 60% of the marks."
Recycling questions were discussed at a recent assessment bodies' conference in Africa, where KNEC was represented.
"In Kenya, it came out that the questions were being repeated, and others were even the same questions and even in the same positions," Ngina said.
Similar questions tend to come up again, and there's a good chance similar answers will surface, so schools that can afford to hire experts and analysts to spot trends will have an advantage.
"When this happens, it's possible to think that they were given an exam, but they were just in a brilliant school that exposed them to the real questions, and they replicate the answers," she explained.
The research expert has criticized the examination body, claiming that there are instances in which the same questions are asked in the same places on the exams.
"If the question was the same this year, it will be the same two years later, with the same position.She declared, "Those who set the exams are failing at this.
Students may trick the system into believing they are exceptional when they have memorized answers to questions that have been asked before, as KNEC has been slow to introduce higher-level thinking questions.
"You don't have a higher question that requires thinking; some of the questions are something you can lift from the book, cram, and download," she said.
Tinderet MP Julius Meli has requested that the Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA) oversee the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) as the nation gets ready for the KCPE.
"We must audit the exam procedure annually and produce a report detailing the procedure's progress. Annual audits of the exam are required, along with a report, "said.
Exam preparation in Kenya is underway this week, with candidates for the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) and KCPE expected to begin practicing on October 27, 2023.
Starting on October 30, 2023, the exams for both levels will run through November 1, 2023. According to KNEC, the KCSE exams will begin on October 23, 2023, and run through November 24, 2023.
