NAIROBI: The free primary and secondary education programme initiated during President Mwai Kibaki's administration is responsible for the high number of Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education candidates who sat the exam last year.
The two educational programmes which came into effect in 2003 and 2011 saw the number of candidates rise from 446,696 in 2013 to 483,630 in 2014.
This represents an increase of 36,934 candidates (8.3 per cent).
"This is the highest in the last three years and is attributed to the fact that the cohort of candidates consists of the first beneficiaries of the free primary education and free secondary education," said Kaimenyi.
Performance improved by 30.8 per cent with 149,717 candidates attaining the minimum university entry qualification of C+ (plus).
This is in comparison with 2013 when only 123,365 candidates (27.5 per cent) attained an overall mean grade of C+ and above.
Analysis of performance by gender shows that 88,299 (59 per cent) male and 61,418 (41 per cent) female candidates attained an overall mean grade of C+ and above, which indicates that male candidates performed better than their female counterparts.
Candidates with an overall mean grade of A (Plain) increased from 2,722 candidates in 2013 to 3,073 in 2014.
Analysis of the candidates who attained an overall mean grade of A (Plain) by gender shows that 2,133 male candidates and 940 female candidates attained this highest possible grade.
Education Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi said candidates who fail to meet various degree qualifications can enroll for diploma, certificate and craft courses in various fields like business, technical, early childhood development and education.
STEPPING STONE
Prof Kaimenyi said those who attained an overall grade of E can as well enroll for certificate courses in business, technical and education, which are now being offered in youth polytechnics countrywide.
The education boss said the courses can also be a stepping stone for those who wish to further their education to undergraduate, graduate and even post-graduate levels.
"All these courses are examined by the Kenya National Examinations Council and as such are highly regarded. You can use the alternative root and still graduate with a Masters or even PhD," he said.
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