The last ever Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) results released by Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu on November 24, 2023 faced a lot of protests.
Notably, parents and teachers came out to protest the alleged irregular rewarding of the results with some even going to court about the issue.
Complaints from candidates and parents further pointed out possible errors in the marks the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) sent to them.
For instance, some candidates complained of receiving SMS results that were different from those on the KNEC portal.
On the other hand, some candidates received marks for the Kenya Sign Language subject which most of them did not sit.
Furthermore, a section of protesting parents and teachers accused KNEC of dishonesty and demanded suspension of the launch of Form One placement.
KNEC Advances Marking
With the developments leading to the disputed last ever KCPE results, it is important to understand how KNEC conducts the marking.
Since 2016, the examination council had been releasing the results within a period of weeks due to improved processing techniques.
Notably, it took KNEC a very short period to mark the answer scripts, after it acquired 20 new scanning machines back in 2018.
Also Read: Machogu, KNEC Sued Over Poor KCPE Results
The new Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) scanners bought in 2018 replaced the previous old scanners that had been in use for more than 16 years.
In addition, from 2017, the examination council facilitated quick marking by including the candidate and center name, and the index number on the exam materials.
KCPE Marking
The OMRs first take a pile of the candidates’ answer sheets that can be marked from both sides, capturing marked data from them.
Furthermore, the scanners then shine a beam of light on the paper.
Marked areas on the sheets are detected through the contrasting reflection at predetermined positions on a page.
Notably, this is achieved as the marked areas reflect less light than the blanks when exposed to the light.
Additionally, the fed marking scheme is used to compare to the marked areas, with a score given for every correct matching.
The process, which happens within a fraction of a second, ends when the tallies are computed, and results submitted into the tallying server.
In case of a situation where a candidate erased an initial mark on the sheet and marked a fresh one, the extent of the reflection density is applied.
This is because both the areas (the erased and the newly marked) contain different densities of reflection.
In this case, the denser point is used to award the score during scanning. However, candidates are advised on how to ensure correct marking.
Also Read: EXPLAINED: How to Apply for KCPE & KCSE Remarking
Credibility
Notably, candidates are advised to ensure only one area is marked for each to avoid disqualification by the scanners.
Also, KNEC `invited dissatisfied candidates to file their complaints on the KCPE 2023 results after the body acknowledged receipt of such complaints.
The examination council affirmed that the KNEC Rules of 2015 on Marking of National Examinations provides for candidates and schools to appeal for review of their marks.
According to the KNEC Act, queries on results should be made within thirty days from the date of release of the examination result.
