[kictanet] kictanet Digest, Vol 11, Issue 17

godera at skyweb.co.ke godera at skyweb.co.ke
Fri Apr 11 08:24:41 EAT 2008


Dear Citizens,

I am simply perplexed at how an "outdated computer programming language" can be 
blamed for such a fiasco.
With all due respect, SOMEONE is responsible for ensuring that no "outdated 
programs" are used, assuming that the report is really true.There is absolutely 
no room for such complacency, not when you are talking about the future of 
these children.
We surely cannot simply blame a machine that requires instruction then say the 
machine let the country down.
We are talking about the credibility of the Kenyan education system here!
We have for years read such bizzare stories happening in other "banana" 
republics and it appears we spent so much time laughing we forgot to look at 
ourselves and continued living in "past glory". 
Such things were unheard of in Kenya then. These days we are simply a laughing 
stock of the so called "banana" republics!
Can someone stand up and take responsibility please!

Gilda Odera   
Quoting kictanet-request at lists.kictanet.or.ke:

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> Today's Topics:
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>    1. Re: KCSE results fiasco explained? (bitange at jambo.co.ke)
>    2. KCSE (bitange at jambo.co.ke)
>    3. Re: KCSE results fiasco explained? (Frank Ojiambo)
> 
> 
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> Message: 1
> Date: Thu, 10 Apr 2008 14:53:29 +0300 (EAT)
> From: bitange at jambo.co.ke
> Subject: Re: [kictanet] KCSE results fiasco explained?
> To: "David Aduda" <daduda at nation.co.ke>
> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
> Message-ID: <50958.213.42.2.22.1207828409.squirrel at mail.jambo.co.ke>
> Content-Type: text/plain;charset=iso-8859-1
> 
> Dear Aduda,
> You are dealing with multiple errors here.  The first error was created by
> a computer programmer.  The second error was created by either the
> reporter or the messenger who tried to correct error number one.  Errors
> of omission are common when fundermentals are not observed.  We need to
> examine the software since Hardware (the computer) does nothing unless
> instructed to do so.
> 
> Regards
> 
> 
> Ndemo.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> > Colleagues,
> >
> > I would be excited to get someone who can explain how the so-called
> > computer error just happened this year and how a body (KNEC) entrusted
> > with the noble task of setting, administering, marking and grading marks
> > for our children could not detect the problem upfront. Is computer
> > becoming the latter day punching bag for grave human mistakes? And does
> > the computer generate its own data or fit's ed by human beings?
> >
> > If there is nay error here, blame my computer?
> >
> > Aduda
> >
> >> ----------
> >> From: 	kictanet-bounces+daduda=nation.co.ke at lists.kictanet.or.ke on
> >> behalf of Leonard Mware
> >> Sent: 	Wednesday, April 9, 2008 1:29 PM
> >> To: 	David Aduda
> >> Cc: 	KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
> >> Subject: 	Re: [kictanet] KCSE results fiasco explained?
> >>
> >> <<File: ATT5157354.txt>>
> >> 'Outdated' as in fashion or not just not able to crunch figures due to
> >> 'uzee"?
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> ----- Original Message ----
> >> From: John Walubengo <jwalu at yahoo.com>
> >> To: mleonardo at yahoo.com
> >> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
> >> Sent: Wednesday, April 9, 2008 10:11:36 AM
> >> Subject: [kictanet] KCSE results fiasco explained?
> >>
> >> >>>Daily Nation, 9th April.
> >> A programming error is to blame for last year?s KCSE
> >> results fiasco in which the error led to the adjustment of
> >> mean grades for some students.
> >>
> >> Education Minister Sam Ongeri said when he released a
> >> report on last year?s Form Four examinations fiasco
> >> yesterday. The report blamed outdated computer programming
> >> language for the error which led to the adjustment of mean
> >> grades for nearly 40,000 candidates. It arose from the use
> >> of an outdated version of a programming language at Kenya
> >> National Examinations Council.
> >> >>>rest of story @
> >>
> http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp?
category_id=1&newsid=120791
> >>
> >> I found it quite difficult to understand how an 'outdated'
> >> programming language that has been working well over the
> >> years suddenly begins to lose memory (its mind?) due to the
> >> 'ageing' process...ama are we experiencing Y2K bug ver 2
> >> remixed here?
> >>
> >> ...and now that the report is public, could Barnabas (ICT
> >> Mnger, Education) shed some more technical light on what
> >> could have transpired? Or maybe Prof. Kashorda who sat on
> >> the Investigation committee? Because technically I still
> >> dont get it...
> >>
> >> walu.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>      
> 
________________________________________________________________________________
____
> >> You rock. That's why Blockbuster's offering you one month of Blockbuster
> >> Total Access, No Cost.
> >> http://tc.deals.yahoo.com/tc/blockbuster/text5.com
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> kictanet mailing list
> >> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
> >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
> >>
> >> This message was sent to: mleonardo at yahoo.com
> >> Unsubscribe or change your options at
> >>
> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/mleonardo%40yahoo.com
> >>
> >>
> >>   _____
> >>
> >> You rock. That's why Blockbuster's offering you one month of Blockbuster
> >> Total Access, No Cost.
> >>
> >
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> > you receive this message in error, please immediately delete it and all
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> > distribute, print, or copy any part of this message if you are not the
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> 
> 
> ---------------------------------------------- 
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> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 2
> Date: Thu, 10 Apr 2008 16:34:11 +0300 (EAT)
> From: bitange at jambo.co.ke
> Subject: [kictanet] KCSE
> To: kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
> Cc: 'Catherine Ngahu' <cngahu at sboresearch.com>,	KICTAnet ICT Policy
> 	Discussions <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>,	vkyalo at ict.go.ke
> Message-ID: <16784.213.42.2.22.1207834451.squirrel at mail.jambo.co.ke>
> Content-Type: text/plain;charset=iso-8859-1
> 
> Dear All,
> My earlier e-mail to Aduda has elisted direct questions as to how the
> programing error could have occured.  Usually errors such as the one
> explained by the Minister occur during Data Mining.
> 
> Researchers generally define data mining (sometimes called data or
> knowledge discovery) as the process of analyzing data from different
> perspectives and summarizing it into useful information - information that
> can be used to increase revenue, cuts costs, or both. Data mining software
> is one of a number of analytical tools for analyzing data. It allows users
> to analyze data from many different dimensions or angles, categorize it,
> and summarize the relationships identified. Technically, data mining is
> the process of finding correlations or patterns among dozens of fields in
> large relational databases like KCSE.
> 
> Data does not automatically become information unless it is mined properly.
> 
> 
> Ndemo
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ---------------------------------------------- 
> This message has been scanned for viruses and
> dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is
> believed to be clean.
> ---------------------------------------------
> "easy access to the world" 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 3
> Date: Thu, 10 Apr 2008 17:22:21 +0300
> From: "Frank Ojiambo" <wanyama at nation.co.ke>
> Subject: Re: [kictanet] KCSE results fiasco explained?
> To: <bitange at jambo.co.ke>
> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
> Message-ID:
> 	<61CFDAF4B595904B9156E157C2D9D44C0A395006 at NATIONMAIL.nation.co.ke>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
> 
> 
> Bitange,
> 
> 
> Perhaps the likes of our Minister for Education, the KNEC Secretary and
> others that choose to call a spade by any other name should submit to your
> wise counsel.
> 
> And it's not just the software that needs examination.  The KNEC Secretary
> and his officers should be placed under a microscope considering plethora
> problems that have perennially afflicted national examinations.
> 
> The abnormally high levels tolerance/impotence among Kenyans is perhaps to
> blame. 
> 
> It's for this reason that ECK Chairman Samuel Kivuitu and his team of zombies
> are, bizzaringly still in office.
> 
> What of the top political leaders currently playing a dangerous chess game, 
> with the 35 million Kenyans relegated to mere pawns?
> 
> It's an insult that Prof Ongeri, Mr Wasanga and his team of goofers at KNEC
> are still in office.
> 
> I long for the day when lynch mobs shall pay courtesy calls on such people
> and do what they do best.
> 
> 
> Frank
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> > ----------
> > From: 	kictanet-bounces+wanyama=nation.co.ke at lists.kictanet.or.ke on 
behalf
> of bitange at jambo.co.ke
> > Sent: 	Thursday, April 10, 2008 2:53 PM
> > To: 	Frank Ojiambo
> > Cc: 	KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
> > Subject: 	Re: [kictanet] KCSE results fiasco explained?
> > 
> > Dear Aduda,
> > You are dealing with multiple errors here.  The first error was created by
> > a computer programmer.  The second error was created by either the
> > reporter or the messenger who tried to correct error number one.  Errors
> > of omission are common when fundermentals are not observed.  We need to
> > examine the software since Hardware (the computer) does nothing unless
> > instructed to do so.
> > 
> > Regards
> > 
> > 
> > Ndemo.
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > > Colleagues,
> > >
> > > I would be excited to get someone who can explain how the so-called
> > > computer error just happened this year and how a body (KNEC) entrusted
> > > with the noble task of setting, administering, marking and grading marks
> > > for our children could not detect the problem upfront. Is computer
> > > becoming the latter day punching bag for grave human mistakes? And does
> > > the computer generate its own data or fit's ed by human beings?
> > >
> > > If there is nay error here, blame my computer?
> > >
> > > Aduda
> > >
> > >> ----------
> > >> From: 	kictanet-bounces+daduda=nation.co.ke at lists.kictanet.or.ke on
> > >> behalf of Leonard Mware
> > >> Sent: 	Wednesday, April 9, 2008 1:29 PM
> > >> To: 	David Aduda
> > >> Cc: 	KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
> > >> Subject: 	Re: [kictanet] KCSE results fiasco explained?
> > >>
> > >> <<File: ATT5157354.txt>>
> > >> 'Outdated' as in fashion or not just not able to crunch figures due to
> > >> 'uzee"?
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> ----- Original Message ----
> > >> From: John Walubengo <jwalu at yahoo.com>
> > >> To: mleonardo at yahoo.com
> > >> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
> > >> Sent: Wednesday, April 9, 2008 10:11:36 AM
> > >> Subject: [kictanet] KCSE results fiasco explained?
> > >>
> > >> >>>Daily Nation, 9th April.
> > >> A programming error is to blame for last year?s KCSE
> > >> results fiasco in which the error led to the adjustment of
> > >> mean grades for some students.
> > >>
> > >> Education Minister Sam Ongeri said when he released a
> > >> report on last year?s Form Four examinations fiasco
> > >> yesterday. The report blamed outdated computer programming
> > >> language for the error which led to the adjustment of mean
> > >> grades for nearly 40,000 candidates. It arose from the use
> > >> of an outdated version of a programming language at Kenya
> > >> National Examinations Council.
> > >> >>>rest of story @
> > >>
> http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp?
category_id=1&newsid=120791
> > >>
> > >> I found it quite difficult to understand how an 'outdated'
> > >> programming language that has been working well over the
> > >> years suddenly begins to lose memory (its mind?) due to the
> > >> 'ageing' process...ama are we experiencing Y2K bug ver 2
> > >> remixed here?
> > >>
> > >> ...and now that the report is public, could Barnabas (ICT
> > >> Mnger, Education) shed some more technical light on what
> > >> could have transpired? Or maybe Prof. Kashorda who sat on
> > >> the Investigation committee? Because technically I still
> > >> dont get it...
> > >>
> > >> walu.
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>      
> 
________________________________________________________________________________
____
> > >> You rock. That's why Blockbuster's offering you one month of
> Blockbuster
> > >> Total Access, No Cost.
> > >> http://tc.deals.yahoo.com/tc/blockbuster/text5.com
> > >>
> > >> _______________________________________________
> > >> kictanet mailing list
> > >> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
> > >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
> > >>
> > >> This message was sent to: mleonardo at yahoo.com
> > >> Unsubscribe or change your options at
> > >>
> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/mleonardo%40yahoo.com
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>   _____
> > >>
> > >> You rock. That's why Blockbuster's offering you one month of
> Blockbuster
> > >> Total Access, No Cost.
> > >>
> > >
> > > DISCLAIMER: The information contained in or accompanying this e-mail is
> > > intended for the use of the stated recipient only.  It may contain
> > > confidential, proprietary or legally privileged information.  No
> > > confidentiality or privilege is waived or lost by any mistransmission. 
> If
> > > you receive this message in error, please immediately delete it and all
> > > copies of it from your system, destroy any hard copies of it and notify
> > > the sender.  You must not, directly or indirectly, use, disclose,
> > > distribute, print, or copy any part of this message if you are not the
> > > intended recipient.
> > >
> > > Any views or opinions presented herein are solely those of the author
> and
> > > do not necessarily represent those of the Nation Media Group.
> > >
> > > > '> To get all breaking news alerts send the word BREAK to 6667 or
> visit
> > > http://www.nationmedia.com/wap to read news on your mobile phone.> '> 
> > >
> > > ----------------------------------------------
> > > This message has been scanned for viruses and
> > > dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is
> > > believed to be clean.
> > > ---------------------------------------------
> > > "easy access to the world"
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > kictanet mailing list
> > > kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
> > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
> > >
> > > This message was sent to: bitange at jambo.co.ke
> > > Unsubscribe or change your options at
> > >
> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/bitange%40jambo.co.ke
> > >
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > ---------------------------------------------- 
> > This message has been scanned for viruses and
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> > believed to be clean.
> > ---------------------------------------------
> > "easy access to the world" 
> > 
> > 
> > _______________________________________________
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> > kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
> > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
> > 
> > This message was sent to: wanyama at nation.co.ke
> > Unsubscribe or change your options at
> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/wanyama%40nation.co.ke
> > 
> > 
> 
> DISCLAIMER: The information contained in or accompanying this e-mail is
> intended for the use of the stated recipient only.  It may contain
> confidential, proprietary or legally privileged information.  No
> confidentiality or privilege is waived or lost by any mistransmission.  If
> you receive this message in error, please immediately delete it and all
> copies of it from your system, destroy any hard copies of it and notify the
> sender.  You must not, directly or indirectly, use, disclose, distribute,
> print, or copy any part of this message if you are not the intended
> recipient. 
> 
> Any views or opinions presented herein are solely those of the author and do
> not necessarily represent those of the Nation Media Group.
> 
> ?To get all breaking news alerts send the word BREAK to 6667 or visit
> http://www.nationmedia.com/wap to read news on your mobile phone.?
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> End of kictanet Digest, Vol 11, Issue 17
> ****************************************
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