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E MARKING

The opportunity is taken to re-table the following issues that remain unsatisfactory despite
repeated efforts to have addressed:

A Selected markers must demonstrate the capacity to meet the demands of their tasks and
cannot just be certified as having content knowledge.
B Challenges to recruit quality markers due to remuneration issues.
C Improving the effectiveness of quality assurance system of using “SEEDs”
D Addressing changes in mark schemes while marking is in progress and re-standardisation
of markers in such cases.
E Improving the monitoring of markers to prevent sub-contracting.

E-marking should be assigned to Teachers or individuals serving within the Education
System as teachers, lecturers etc. Thus, it is imperative that markers have experience with
applying subject content within the syllabus requirements as well as understandings of how
students express what they know.
It is reported that markers have been recruited who just meet the requirements of being a
University Graduate. There are concerns that the system does not effectively monitor markers
as reports of markers sub-contract other persons to mark for them so they may increase their
quota.
Markers are repeatedly frustrated by the delays in providing remuneration and continue to
express their dissatisfaction with the stipend/honorarium. It is increasingly difficult to recruit
quality markers and the bar of excellence is sliding on downward trend.
Inconsistent “SEEDs” have affected the quality of marking. In some instances, the SEED
omitted a section of the question resulting in the student being awarded less marks than
deserved. Also, the SEEDs have been selected from scripts of the previous year rather than
the current year of examination. While in principle, standardization can still be effected, the
range of possible responses that were actually submitted are not adequately sampled and thus
may limit the rigor of standardization.

Other concerns reported include:

o No real-time support for examiners who may have questions on the marking process
o Incorrect scripts sometimes uploaded which further delays the process
o Technical support over the weekend is inconsistent
o Technical glitches with the system
o Administrative challenges with the scripts (incorrect scripts/questions uploaded) that
further delay the marking process and calls the exercise into question.

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