KCSE 2023 grading subjected to Mathematics and one language.
For the 2023 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education exam, the Ministry of Education has implemented a new grading system. The Cabinet Secretary for Education, Ezekiel Machogu, has declared that, in accordance with this new system, the only required subjects for determining the mean grade will be Mathematics and one language course (either English, Kiswahili, or Kenyan Sign Language).
In addition to these two required topics, the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) will evaluate the candidate based on their performance in the five subjects in which they fared the best overall. It is anticipated that the implementation of this modification would result in an increase in the number of students who meet the requirements to enroll in universities, receive degrees, and participate in TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) programs at the Certificate and Artisan levels.
In the previous grading system, the mean grades for KCSE examinations were determined based on the following five compulsory subjects: mathematics, English, Kiswahili, two scientific disciplines, and one humanities subject.
This revised grading system has been designed with the intention of better catering to the needs, interests, and abilities of students. Its purpose is to ensure that students who have specific interests in fields such as medical or engineering are not prevented from qualifying for these courses only because a subject that was not related to their chosen profession pulled down their overall mean grade. This can be a barrier for students who want to pursue careers in fields such as medicine or engineering.
Within the context of the national education system, the utilization of grading not merely for the goal of admitting students to higher education institutions is not the primary focus but rather the certification of students. Literacy and numeracy skills, rather than academic performance alone, are the primary areas of concentration here.
The old 8-4-4 education system largely promoted academics and rote learning, which had the potential to impede the development of vital skills and values that are essential for character formation. This reform is a part of a larger effort to overcome the inadequacies of the previous system, which is why it is being implemented. The new system will hopefully be more accommodating and sensitive to the specific requirements of each student.
