What KCSE Grading System Review means For Students
What KCSE Grading System Review means For Students More than five million students in Kenya will benefit from the revised grading system for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination. Introduced by Education Secretary Ezekiel Machgu, the new system will reduce the number of compulsory subjects from five to two.
Candidates will now have two compulsory subjects (Mathematics and one language which can be English, Kiswahili or Kenyan Sign Language) and the grade point average is calculated based on the best five subjects.
Previously, the assessment system included five compulsory subjects (English, Kiswahili, mathematics and two science subjects) and two humanities subjects, which excluded students whose strengths were outside of this formula.
Machgu hopes this reform will increase the number of students eligible for universities, diploma programs, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), as well as certificates and artisan degrees.
This change is in accordance with the recommendations of the Presidential Task Force on Education Reform (PWPER). The first group of students to benefit from this reform is the class of 2023, who will take their exams between November 6 and November 24.
Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Services (KUCCPs) will be responsible for placing students into higher education institutions based on their performance under this new assessment system.
The new system aims to help students focus on their strengths and career paths. It seeks to take success out of deployment and align with global best practices. The government is monitoring the weather conditions, especially the expected El Nino rains in the next month, to ensure the delivery of test materials regularly.
In addition, there are changes in test administration, including annual staff turnover for staff and supervisors. This year’s national examinations are Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA), Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) and KCSE for Grade 6 students. KCPE has the largest number of registered candidates (1,415,315).
Candidates will undergo training and tests will be conducted under the new system to prevent early exposure. Safety measures such as the use of containers for safe storage of test materials have been enhanced.
These changes represent important reforms in Kenya’s education system aimed at improving equity and opportunities for students.
What KCSE Grading System Review means For Students