Knec Finally Clears the air on the fate of 2021/2022/2023 Examiners Payment Rates, Delayed Pay Day and Zero Pay for Deputy Centre Managers despite being Part of the 2022 Knec Contracted Professionals.

The Knec payment rates  per day and per script for contracted professionals and examiners are likely to remain constant this year (2022) since the demands of each KCSE or KCPE script have not changed. Besides, the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers, Kuppet has aborted any form of industrial action for now till further notice, probably in July 2022 when re-negotiations for the betterment of teachers’ welfare in the current CBA 2021-2025 will commence.

This therefore means that even if the recently contracted Knec examiners and other professionals stage demos to demonstrate their discontent with the current Knec payment rates per day, poor meals and working conditions at the Knec marking centres this year, they may not have the back up of Kuppet, the giant Teachers’ union.

 

Knec Taken to Task over zero Payment Rates per Day for Contracted Professionals- Deputy Centre Managers and low Payment Rates per Script for Examiners

 

The Kenya National Examinations Council (Knec) was obliged to finally respond on the fate of Reimbursement and payment for teachers who are usually contracted to mark the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Examinations (KCSE) in Nairobi.

How Knec pays Examiners and other Contracted Professionals

Knec officials who had been summoned to appear in parliament for questioning after numerous complaints by teachers who said they have not been paid months after the exams were marked and released were put to task and forced to shed light on how Knec pays Examiners and other Contracted Professionals.

 

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Bomet Central constituency Mr. Ronald Tonui posed a question on why the examiners who had been contracted to mark the 2020 KCSE exams had not been paid months after the official release of the examination results.

 

“Explain why the Kenya National Examinations Council has not paid teachers who marked KCSE examinations and when they will be paid,” asked Tonui.

 

Official Knec Response on the Fate of Examiners Payment Date, Rates and Zero Pay for Deputy Centre Managers

 

“Hon. Chair, KNEC engages teachers and other contracted professionals in the administration and marking of national examinations and pays them a token for the services rendered.

 

The reconciliation of the KCSE examiners script fees takes time to be completed and the total amount payable is Kes.1,025,235,307 out of which Kes.251,251,200 is paid at the conclusion of the marking period between 2nd April and 17th April.   

Knec pays Kes.251,251,200 to examiners once the marking period which amounts to close to two weeks elapses in form of advance and reimbursement of fare and other travelling costs incurred when reporting to the designated Knec Marking Centres in Nairobi.

 

Thus, the outstanding Knec examiners’ pay  usually stands at Kes.773,984, 107.00.

 

For the FY 2020/2021, KNEC was allocated KCPE/KCSE grants of Kes.4,023,868, 712 instead of the required Kes.4,588,244,200 at Kes.800 per candidate for KCPE and Kes.5,400 per candidate for KCSE.

 

Consequently, KNEC was not unable to pay the teachers who were engaged during the marking of the 2020 KCSE examinations on time in 2021.

 

The Ministry however engaged the National Treasury for the immediate release of the outstanding funds to ensure that the outstanding arrears are paid to the markers.

Knec Pay Day for 2022 Examiners and Contracted Professionals

To forestall a recurrence of such unpaid arrears for Knec examiners and other professionals, the council was 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.

 

Knec Criteria for Determining Payment Rates for invigilators, supervisors, examiners and centre managers

When asked to elaborate on the  criteria used in determining rates for paying invigilators, supervisors, examiners and centre managers, the current rates and when KNEC intends to revise the said rates; Knec noted that Knec payment rates vary from one examiner  or contracted professional to the other and some of the factors considered encompass travelling cost and meals, number of days worked as per the Knec register online, length and marking demands of each KCSE or KCPE paper.

 

“Hon. 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 centres.

 

The script fees rate is based on the length and marking demands of the paper.”

Knec Review of Examiners Payment Rates per Script

 

According to Knec, the latest review of payment paper rates was carried out in 2019. The next review will be in 2022 subject to the availability of funds.

 

Knec Explains why Deputy Centre Managers and Teachers Handling KCSE Practicals are not Considered for Payment

 

When asked to explain why the deputy centre managers and teachers handling practicals during examinations are not considered for payment and if the Ministry can consider paying them, Knec explained that the Deputy Centre Managers and Teachers handling practicals are not directly involved in the administration of examinations in their respective schools and therefore not entitled to any form of payment.

 

“Hon. Chair, The Deputy Centre Managers and Teachers handling practicals are not directly involved in the administration of examinations in their respective schools and therefore not entitled to any form of payment.”

 

The Deputy Centre Managers are there to assist in enforcing discipline of the candidates during the examinations while Science Teachers prepare the laboratories for the practical tests which is part of their routine duties and responsibilities.