2023 KCSE Grading to be Pegged on Mathematics and One Language
The Ministry of Education has introduced a new grading system for the 2023 KCSE Examination. Education CS Ezekiel Machogu has announced that, under this new scheme, only Mathematics and one language subject (English, Kiswahili, or Kenyan Sign Language) will be mandatory for calculating the mean grade.
In addition to these two mandatory subjects, KNEC (Kenya National Examinations Council) will consider the performance of the candidate’s five best-performed subjects. This change is expected to increase the number of students qualifying for universities, diplomas, and TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) programs at Certificate and Artisan levels.
In the previous system, mean grades for KCSE exams were calculated based on five obligatory subjects from three clusters: Mathematics, English, Kiswahili, two sciences, and one humanity.
The goal of this new grading system is to better accommodate the interests and competencies of learners. It aims to ensure that students with specific interests in fields like medicine or engineering are not hindered from qualifying for these courses solely because a subject that wasn’t relevant to their chosen field pulled down their overall mean grade.
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The emphasis is on using grading in the national education system for certification purposes and not solely for placing students in higher learning institutions. The focus is on literacy and numeracy abilities, rather than just academic performance.
This reform is part of a broader effort to address the limitations of the previous 8-4-4 education system, which heavily favored academics and rote learning, potentially limiting the development of critical skills and values essential for character formation. The new system seeks to be more inclusive and responsive to individual student needs.
2023 KCSE Grading to be Pegged on Mathematics and One Language
