On 25th September, the Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu unveiled a new grading structure in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) grading system for 2023 candidates and it will be applied to all future KCSE candidates.
In the new grading system, the changes are aimed at increasing the number of students who qualify for the tertiary education level. Machogu said only two mandatory subjects, Mathematics and one language (English, Kiswahili, or Kenyan Sign Language), will be used to compute the mean grade.
The Education CS was speaking during the 2023 National Examinations season launch that took place at the New Mitihani House on Monday, September 25. Examiners will be required to pick five of the best-performed subjects from a candidate, doing away with the previous grading system.
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“In the new grading system that will be applied to the 2023 KCSE examination, the only two mandatory subjects will be Mathematics and one language either English, Kiswahili, or Kenyan Sign Language,” he said.
“Previously there were five mandatory subjects across three cluster groups – Mathematics, English, Kiswahili, two sciences, and one humanity,” said Machogu on Monday during a stakeholders’ engagement on the new grading system at the New Mtihani House.
The examiners will be required to pick five of the best-performed subjects from each student. In the previous years, five mandatory subjects, which are, Mathematics, English, Kiswahili, two sciences, and one humanity were used while grading a candidate.
“In addition to the two mandatory subjects – the Kenya National Examinations Council will consider any other five best-performed subjects. It is expected that the new reform measure will increase the number of students qualifying for universities, Diploma, and TVET training at Certificate and Artisan levels,” said the Education CS.
According to Machogu, It is expected that the new reform measure will increase the number of students qualifying for universities, Diploma, and TVET training at Certificate and Artisan levels. The CS added that examination materials will be picked twice a day from the 576 examination storage and distribution centers.
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The previous system was perceived to disadvantage some learners whose best-performing subject was not considered if not within the clusters, as has been the case since the inception of the 8-4-4 education system.
The CS said that to ensure the integrity of the examination process, the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) is implementing stringent security measures for the 2023 national examinations. Technology will be administered by the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) so that teacher trainees are assessed electronically.
A total of three national examinations will be administered this year, including the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) for Grade 6 learners, the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE), and the KCSE.
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