Ministry of Education to Change KCSE Exams Grading System
The Ministry of Education is planning to revamp the grading structure for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams in order to better align them with the aptitudes and interests of students. Belio Kipsang, the Principal Secretary for Basic Education, announced this change, emphasizing that the new grading system would consider the literacy and numeracy skills of students.
Under the proposed changes, the grading system will shift from grading students across subject clusters to considering the best five subjects in their overall grading. This marks a departure from the traditional approach that has been in place since the introduction of the 8.4.4 system of education.
These developments were discussed by PS Kipsang during a briefing on the status of the recommendations made by the Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms (PWPER) to the Departmental Committee on Education of the National Assembly. Kipsang represented the Cabinet Secretary for Education, Ezekiel Machogu, during this briefing.
The PWPER’s recommendations included a review of the KCSE grading system to align it with international standards for student assessment. Kipsang clarified that the purpose of grading in the national education system is for certification rather than student placement in higher education. He pointed out that the integration of certification and placement had disadvantaged students with diverse abilities and interests.
To address this, the new grading structure will consider literacy and numeracy abilities. However, for students in the remaining cohort of the 8.4.4 system, their grades will be based on performance in five subjects, in addition to their scores in Mathematics and either English or Kiswahili.
This change aims to ensure that students with specific interests, such as Medicine or engineering, are not hindered from pursuing their desired courses due to lower grades in other subjects.
Furthermore, Kipsang mentioned the government’s intention to involve National Government Administration Officers (NGAO) in the County Education Board (CEB) system. This inclusion of County Commissioners in CEB is seen as a way to enforce regulations and promote harmony in a culturally diverse educational environment.
Overall, the recommendations of the PWPER are geared toward enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of education service delivery. The goal is to provide all children with an optimal learning experience, regardless of their social background or physical and mental conditions.
During the briefing, Hon. Malulu Injendi, the Deputy Chair of the Departmental Committee, emphasized the importance of the Committee understanding the dynamics of these reforms to support the policy and legislative proposals put forth by the PWPER.
Several key officials, including the Director General and chief executive officers of state corporations under the Ministry of Education, were also present at the event.
Ministry of Education to Change KCSE Exams Grading System
