Education Cabinet Secretary. [Photo/nation.co.ke]
A top Moi University don, a former examiner, who spoke on condition of anonymity to Hivisasa has bemoaned the ''mass failure'' that the analysis of the 2017 KCSE has revealed, saying that it amounts to the blanket condemnation and demonisation of Kenyan children.''What Matiang'i has done is wrong. Certain important processes and steps were missed before the declaration of results. A huge chunk of students did not attain the pass mark in the exams to transition to the next level. We have told these students that they are failures for failing to get As,'' the literature lecturer told our newsroom editor.The lecturer argued that the incredibly short time within which the exams were marked and results compiled did not allow for time for those marking exams to debate on how to give grades, what is usually referred to as standardisation in exam marking circles.''You see, the time within which the exams were marked was very short. Before grading the papers, the examiners usually debate amongst themselves on how to grade students in various parts of the country. This is because the students contend with varying realities. For example, you cannot grade a student studying in Turkana or Garissa in the same way as a student in Nairobi or Nyeri simply because their realities are different,'' the don said.These strong words critical of Matiang'i's approach come in the backdrop of great unhappiness about how the marking of the national examinations was conducted.Unlike in previous dispensations where significant time was allocated to the marking of exams, Matiang'i has made marking exams in the shortest time possible part of his ''disruptive'' reform agenda for the education sector.The opposition leader, Raila Odinga, and high-powered Knut officials have called for comprehensive investigations to determine what led to the ''mass failure'' of students.