Education CS Ezekiel Machogu directs qualifications authority to protect the credibility of academic papers

Education CS Ezekiel Machogu speaking at Mtihani house during the release of 2022 KCSE examination results on Friday, January, 20, 2023. [Samson Wire Standard]

Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu has asked a state agency to ensure credibility of Kenya's academic qualifications are protected at all times.

To achieve this, Machogu directed the Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA) to ensure that the National Qualifications Framework is fully implemented.

Mr Machogu said that the government is determined to ensure that the credibility and authenticity of qualifications and certificates that come from education and training institutions remains of high quality.

Machogu also announced that the government has developed a system for articulation, classification, registration, accreditation and quality assurance of national qualifications.

"This will enhance the quality, relevance and authenticity of qualifications, not just locally but globally. This will also promote portability of our qualifications and mobility of labour," said Mr Machogu.

The CS was speaking during the release of 2022 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations in Nairobi.

Kenya National Qualifications Framework (KNQF) Act no.22 of 2014 mandates KNQA to co-ordinate and supervise development of policies on national qualifications.

It also provides for the recognition of attainment or competencies including skills, knowledge, attitudes and values.

The Act further mandates KNQA to develop a system of competence, life-long learning and attainment of national qualifications as well facilitate linkages, credit transfers and exemptions.

It also provides for a vertical and horizontal mobility at all levels to enable entry, re-entry and exit coordinate and promote the recognition of national qualifications internationally.

The government has already announced developed a policy on recognition of prior learning (RPL).

The policy provides for a framework for recognition of skills through award of certificates, based on competence to better enable them participate in various economic opportunities.

This aims to provide every Kenyan, with an opportunity to participate in economic development and address the inequity in tendering for contracts by jua kali artisans and craftsmen, due to their lack of certification and to secure opportunities for them.

And speaking on Friday, January 20, Machogu said that all the candidates who sat the KCSE Examination in 2022 have avenues to progress to other levels of education as the government seeks to leave no learner behind in career development.

"All these candidates have a destiny and the government is determined to clear the path for them to reach that destiny," said Machogu.

Of the total number of candidates that sat the 2022 KCSE Examination, 443,644 were male while 437,772 were female, representing 50.33 per cent and 49.67 per cent of the total candidature respectively.