We have paid 2022 examiners’ dues, says Knec chief executive

The Kenya National Examination Council (Knec) has announced that the 31,164 teachers who marked last year’s national examinations had started to receive their dues.

Knec Chief Executive Officer David Njengere yesterday said that National Treasury had released Sh2 billion to facilitate payment of 2022 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examiners and other contracted officials.

Also paid are at least 89,910 KCSE invigilators and supervisors.

“The Treasury gave us the money, Sh2 billion, that was remaining to allow us to meet the balance,” Njengere said.

“Please note it is a balance because we give them an advance as they are leaving the marking centres and this balance is what we have cleared. We have also paid all supervisors and invigilators and every other person who participated in the exercise including security officers,” he explained.

The amount a teacher receives depends on the number of scripts they mark.

The examiners have been urging the government to  increase marking rates.

In January, some examiners attempted to disrupt the process, saying they were unhappy with the marking system and demanded higher rates.

“Since the issue of the examiner’s marking fee is an individual contract, and agreed to before reporting to a centre, the Council found it impossible to find an extra budget to revise the rates midway,” said Knec chairperson Julius Nyabundi.

The Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) recently warned that teachers would disrupt the national exams scheduled for October and November if their 2022 exam marking pay arrears were not settled.