 |
| Former Education CS, Jacob Kaimenyi. He led the ban on school ranking in national exams. |
Ranking of primary and secondary schools in national examinations (KCPE and KCSE) may return if a bill being worked out in parliament becomes law. Members of the national assembly are in the process of amending a piece of legislation that relates to the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC). The amendment will pave the way for a return to the ranking of schools in national examinations.
The KNEC (amendment) bill, which is sponsored by Kiminini MP Chris Wamalwa, has received the backing of several MPs who believe that ranking of schools is a fact of life that cannot be avoided. The government banned ranking of schools based on their performance in KCPE and KCSE over claims that the practice was fueling exam cheating.
Things will never be the same again
However, ranking of schools in the new dispensation could be sharply different from what used to happen in the past before the government banned the practice. For example, the bill calls for a structured way of ranking schools in national exams. If you read the bill carefully, you get the impression that if it becomes law, schools will be ranked according to their category and the learning resources they have access to. That means that national schools will be ranked separately from county, municipal and non-formal schools. In the past, schools were ranked together regardless of the level of staffing, infrastructure and other learning resources they have.
Balanced ranking
It appears that lawmakers have realised that rampant cheating in national exams was a direct consequence of unfair ranking of schools. As such, they hope that balanced ranking will solve the problem while at the same time expose best and weak performers in national exams.
The lawmakers also believe that bringing back school ranking will enable other education stakeholders to quickly identify where to channel resources to improve the quality of education. For example, school’s poor performance in the national exam could be a statement about its shortage of resources.
Some parents also use the school rankings to identify the best schools for their children.
It appears that lawmakers have realised that rampant cheating in national exams was a direct consequence of unfair ranking of schools. As such, they hope that balanced ranking will solve the problem while at the same time expose best and weak performers in national exams.
The lawmakers also believe that bringing back school ranking will enable other education stakeholders to quickly identify where to channel resources to improve the quality of education. For example, school’s poor performance in the national exam could be a statement about its shortage of resources.
Some parents also use the school rankings to identify the best schools for their children.
Excitement
The ban on ranking of schools has doused the celebrations that typically accompany the release of KCPE and KCSE results.
The ban on ranking of schools has doused the celebrations that typically accompany the release of KCPE and KCSE results.
 |
| Kinyago Dandora Secondary School senior girls. The school posted the second-best KCSE results in Njiru District in 2011. |
0 comments:
Post a Comment