It is now months after the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination was released yet markers who participated in the exercise have not seen a dime in their accounts for the job they did.
2020 KCSE candidates have since applied for placement to universities and colleges with some securing placement seemingly a telling concern as the markers have been left in limbo for far too long.
A number of teachers who did not want their identity to be revealed, spoke to us (Teacher.co.ke), claiming that they have not been paid their dues from the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC), more than 90 days after rendering their services.
The teachers complained that the delay in paying had ruined their financial planning.
The teachers felt that while Education Cabinet Secretary Prof George Magoha quickly took credit for marking being done in time yet those who worked behind the scenes to mark the examination have not received their pay.
“KNEC has not paid us 3 months after we finished marking 3 months ago. The examiner was expected to process payment within three weeks, it is a worrying situation. I planned to use the money on a business venture but now I have had to suppress my dreams,” said one of the markers.
One of the teachers compared the current situation to the time of another Cabinet Secretary for Education Dr. Wilfred Matiang’i, saying that during Matiang’i’s time payment was done a lot sooner.
“During Matiang’i’s time, we could be paid before three weeks elapsed. Now things are not the same anymore. They cannot blame the COVID-19 pandemic for every single payment they have to make,” said one of the teachers, a lady who participated in marking English Paper One.
The teachers who spoke to us revealed that they used to work from 4:00 am to 10:00 pm during the two weeks duration they participated in the marking exercise but the education sector’s importance seems to have been overlooked.
“Most of us are suffering in silence due to the fear of being victimized and being removed from the list of examiners,” said one of the teachers whom all chose that their identity remains anonymous.
Knec Kindly pay examiners