Examiner who has marked KCPE exams since 1985 honoured as he bows out

Three teachers, including the longest-serving KCPE examiner Waswa Thomas Omuhaka, have been recognised by Education Cabinet Secretary (CS) Ezekiel Machogu for their role in perfecting the outgoing primary education curriculum.

The other two teachers are; Esther Gatonye and one Rev. Micheni

62-year-old Omuhaka marked the inaugural 1985 KCPE English paper aged 22 years while employed as a language teacher at Makunga Primary School. 

"I am very happy today to have been awarded the certificate and recognition as a chief examiner in this paper. I was there in 1985 marking examinations as a young man and I am very happy that I am ending it in 2023, 38 years down the line," he said.

Omuhaka says KCPE will be remembered for the tremendous strides in improving performances in languages, usage of tenses and sentence construction, during its 39 years of existence.

He similarly revisited the hits and misses of the nearly four-decade-old primary education curriculum.

"In the previous 8-4-4 system the initial seven subjects were the best because children learnt how to do brickwork, pottery and many other things but when the system was changed to academic that's when the problem arose," he said.

Omuhaka added that the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) is better compared to the 8-4-4 system of education, which he says focuses on job seeking while the new curriculum aims at job creation through recognition of talent.

"Let's leave CBC the way it is. The 8-4-4 system was examination-oriented. It was for job seekers, CBC is for job creators. We are all winners in CBC," he said.

Gatonye, while expressing gratitude for her recognition, lauded the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) for ensuring that pupils with special needs are not left behind as far as receiving proper education is concerned.

"I have been marking KCPE papers for pupils with special needs, specifically those doing sign language and I have marked English compositions and Kiswahili inshas in both print and braille. I would like to thank KNEC for considering the pupils with special needs and for finding them qualified teachers to help them get a decent education," she said.

Rev. Micheni, who has been responsible for marking Kiswahili inshas, shared the same sentiments as his colleagues while at the same time lauding KNEC for the manner in which the state agency handled the examinations over the years.

As Waswa and his colleagues exit the KCPE stage, they leave behind a legacy that impacted millions of Kenyans who underwent the 39-year-old appraisal system.