Re: [kictanet] kictanet Digest, Vol 11, Issue 17
Dear Citizens, I am simply perplexed at how an "outdated computer programming language" can be blamed for such a fiasco. With all due respect, SOMEONE is responsible for ensuring that no "outdated programs" are used, assuming that the report is really true.There is absolutely no room for such complacency, not when you are talking about the future of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@lists.kictanet.or.ke:
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Today's Topics:
1. Re: KCSE results fiasco explained? (bitange@jambo.co.ke) 2. KCSE (bitange@jambo.co.ke) 3. Re: KCSE results fiasco explained? (Frank Ojiambo)
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Message: 1 Date: Thu, 10 Apr 2008 14:53:29 +0300 (EAT) From: bitange@jambo.co.ke Subject: Re: [kictanet] KCSE results fiasco explained? To: "David Aduda" <daduda@nation.co.ke> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Message-ID: <50958.213.42.2.22.1207828409.squirrel@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@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@yahoo.com> To: mleonardo@yahoo.com Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet@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.
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Message: 2 Date: Thu, 10 Apr 2008 16:34:11 +0300 (EAT) From: bitange@jambo.co.ke Subject: [kictanet] KCSE To: kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke Cc: 'Catherine Ngahu' <cngahu@sboresearch.com>, KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke>, vkyalo@ict.go.ke Message-ID: <16784.213.42.2.22.1207834451.squirrel@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
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Message: 3 Date: Thu, 10 Apr 2008 17:22:21 +0300 From: "Frank Ojiambo" <wanyama@nation.co.ke> Subject: Re: [kictanet] KCSE results fiasco explained? To: <bitange@jambo.co.ke> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Message-ID: <61CFDAF4B595904B9156E157C2D9D44C0A395006@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@lists.kictanet.or.ke on behalf of bitange@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@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@yahoo.com> To: mleonardo@yahoo.com Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet@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.
________________________________________________________________________________ ____
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