Exam Result Integrity Under Scrutiny: Altered Grades on KNEC Website Raise Questions

Parents and students across various schools are facing uncertainty as divergent examination results have emerged through the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) website, sparking concerns and raising questions about the integrity of the recently released results.

The announcement of the exam results on Monday, January 8, 2024, at 4 a.m. prompted the Minister of Education, Ezekiel Machogu, to direct parents to access the complete results on the KNEC website. While many students successfully accessed their results in the morning, the website later encountered technical issues due to high traffic.

By the evening, a disconcerting pattern emerged as it became evident that the initially viewed results had undergone significant changes. One candidate from Kenya High School, who preferred to remain anonymous for legal reasons, initially reported receiving an A- when checking the results in the morning with their parent. However, upon reevaluation later in the day, it was discovered that the grades had completely transformed to a B+. Notably, the subjects of Kiswahili and Mathematics experienced alterations, displaying B+ and A- respectively in the morning but shifting to B- and B plain later in the day.

A similar scenario unfolded at Nairobi School, where a candidate initially found a B plain in the morning, but upon subsequent review, the grade had been downgraded to a B-. Comparable inconsistencies were observed in Kiswahili and Mathematics, with the initial grades of A- and C+ adjusted to B plain and C plain.

These discrepancies have sparked widespread concern among candidates, parents, and stakeholders, as the reasons behind these unusual changes remain unclear. An anonymous source from Kenya High School revealed that they are closely monitoring the situation in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, expressing hope that the initial grades will be upheld.

Simultaneously, Kenya High School reported an overall improvement in its results, achieving A in 36 subjects, A- in 118, B+ in 106, B in 65, and B- in 42 subjects. The evolving situation has cast a shadow of doubt on the reliability of the examination results, prompting a thorough investigation to address the concerns and restore confidence in the examination process.