The Ministry of Education (MoE) has finally issued a response following a myriad of complaints from teachers who participated in the KCSE marking exercise who are yet to be paid three months down the line.
Cabinet Secretary for Education Prof George Magoha was summoned to appear in parliament for questioning after many teachers complained, saying that they had not received their dues after the examinations were marked and then released to the public.
Bomet Constituency Member of Parliament Mr. Ronald Tonui asked the examiner why they have not paid teachers following the marking of the 2020 KCSE examinations.
“Explain why the Kenya National Examinations Council has not paid teachers who marked KCSE 2020 examinations and when will they receive their dues,” posed Mr. Tonui.
In response, CS Magoha said the following:
“Honourable Chair, KNEC engages teachers and other contracted professionals in the administration and marking of the national examinations and then pays them a token for the services rendered.
“The reconciliation of the 2020 KCSE examiners script fees has been completed and the total amount payable is Sh. 1,025,235, 307 out of which 251,251, 200 was paid at the completion of the marking exercise between 4th and 7th of May 2021.
“Therefore, the outstanding amount is Shs. 773,984,107.
“For the Financial Year 2020/2021, KNEC was allocated KCPE/KCSE grants of Sh. 4, 023,868,712 instead of the required amount of Sh. 4,588,244,200 at the rate of Sh. 800 per candidate for the KCPE and Sh. 5,400 per candidate for the KCSE.
“Consequently, KNEC was unable to pay the teachers who were engaged during the marking of the 2020 KCSE examinations on time.
“The Ministry has however engaged the National Treasury for the release of the outstanding funds to ensure that the outstanding arrears are paid as soon as possible to the markers.
“To forestall a recurrence of such unpaid arrears in time for the next national examinations, KNEC has been directed to ascertain the number of candidates as soon as the registration process is concluded, in order for the Ministry to ensure that any shortfall is covered in the Supplementary budget tabled and considered by Parliament before the examinations begin in March 2022,” responded Magoha.
When a question on why the deputy center managers and teachers handling practical examinations are not considered for payment and whether the Ministry could consider paying them, the CS issued the following response.
Honorable Chair, The Deputy Centre Managers, and Teachers handling practicals are not directly involved in the administration of examinations in their respective schools and therefore are not entitled to any form of payment.
The Deputy Centre Managers are there to assist in enforcing the discipline of the candidates during the examinations while science teachers prepare the laboratories for the practical tests which are part of their routine duties and responsibilities.
Another question was posed: What are the criteria used in determining the rates for paying invigilators, supervisors, examiners, and center managers, the current rates, and when KNEC intends to revise the mentioned rates
CS Magoha responded:
Honorable Chair, supervisors, and Invigilators are paid to facilitate their travel and meals at a fixed rate per day. The amount paid to supervisors depends on the number of days worked.
Examiners are paid travel return fare based on the distance of their duty stations from the marking centers.
The script fees rate is based on the length and marking demands of the paper.
The review of paper rates was carried out in 2019. The next review will be done in 2022 subject to the availability of funds.