KCSE students didn't fail, pedagogy failed them

Candidates receive advice from leaders and teachers ahead of their national exams. PHOTO: FILE

With the release of the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination results, the fate of about 295,463 candidates was sealed. The system labelled them failures; because they obtained Grades D and E. But let’s be honest and have a thoughtful discussion. Are these candidates failures, really?

Let’s examine the tools that were available in the KCSE exam preparation toolkit. What instruments did they have to work with? It is indeed a sad affair; because the tools available were purely academic: reading, writing, and recalling. Were there any innovative tools in that toolbox? Any creativity tools? Nothing! The verdict: Our current system of education concentrates on the academic dimension of intelligence. It does not recognize and value other intelligences and talents such as innovation and creativity.