Original Research Article

Examiners’ Professional Status and Efficiency of Marking the Cameroon General Certificate of Education Examinations

Ndifor Jean Ndemmazea

Department of Curriculum Studies And Teaching, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon

Email: ndifor.jean@ubuea.cm

Received: 09 November 2022  I  Accepted: 11 December 2022  I  Published: 17 December 2022  I  Article ID: MRJER22028
Copyright © 2022 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article.
This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0.

Abstract

This research sought to examine the Effects of examiners’ professional status on the efficiency of marking the Cameroon General Certificate of Education examinations. The study was prompted by the wide differences sometimes observed between the marks/scores awarded by a Chief examiner and other examiners over the same scripts marked. The study was carried out in the Republic of Cameroon using the 2021 GCE Examiners of both the Ordinary and Advanced Level general subjects. The sample size of the study was made up of 360 examiners and 36 chief examiners. The descriptive survey research design was used where questionnaire with both close and open ended questions were constructed and validated for data collection. Data were analysed descriptively, thematically and with the use of SPSS statistical package. The findings revealed that the professional status of an examiner influences marking efficiency. Based on the findings, some recommendations were made: The GCE board could organize regular seminars/workshops for examiners; The Conveyor Belt marking system of marking should be used to encourage specialization; Two independent marking of all scripts if not at least for the borderline cases (39-49 for O/L and 34-44 for A/L) could also increase marking efficiency; The selection of examiners should be strictly based on professional backings; and GCE examiners should be more committed and responsible especially during the marking exercise.

Keywords: Examiner, Marking efficiency, Marking, Professional status