There are positive indicators in this year’s KCSE results, build on them

There was excitement, hope and celebrations when this year’s Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination results were released on Friday after an unexpected day-long wait. The Ministry of Education had indicated in the morning that they would release the results, triggering anxiety and high expectations. When the ceremony kicked in the afternoon, all eyes were on Education Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed. Of the 660,204 candidates, some 90,377 attained the minimum university entry grade of C+. This means 20,000 more students have qualified for university compare to last year’s 70,073. While this presents a unique challenge to universities, the improved performance should be hailed even as the country invests in more institutions of higher learning. There was also a notable narrowing down of the gender gap, where there were 23,192 more female candidates compared to last year. An review of the KCSE candidature trends in the last five years showed a steady increase in the number of girls registering for the exam.  
Taita Taveta, Kwale, Nyandarua, Kirinyaga, Murang’a, Kiambu, Machakos, Kitui, Meru, Makueni, Tharaka Nithi, Uasin Gishu, Nandi, Laikipia, Elgeyo Marakwet, Kakamega, Vihiga and Kisumu counties recorded a higher number of female candidates compared to male.

Another positive indicator was that poor performers in the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) had posted a notable improvement in this year’s KCSE. This shows that flopping in KCPE does not necessarily mean one would fail in KCSE. This validates the Government’s aim of ensuring 100 per cent transition from primary to secondary school. It also sends a clear message to parents, who keep worrying over which schools their KCPE candidates are admitted to, fearing that going to poorer schools would mean missing a chance to advance to university. On the same stroke, there is hope for those who fail to join university. There are technical colleges that offer courses that are equally promising. In future, Kenya will need more technicians and artisans to compliment the country’s economic growth. Still, sitting a national examination should never be equated to being successful in life. There have been unfortunate cases of parents punishing their children for not passing the exam. Well done to this year’s KCSE top performers!