Male candidates outshine females learners in 2023 KCSE exams

KCSE candidate at St Kevin's Secondary in Lodwar, Turkana County. [Mike Ekutan, Standard]

The 2023 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams have seen a remarkable improvement in performance, with male candidates outshining females in most subjects.

According to Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu, who released the results on January 8, male candidates recorded better mean scores in 10 subjects, while female candidates performed better in five subjects.

“Male candidates recorded better mean score performance than female candidates in ten subjects: Mathematics Alt. A & B, Biology, Chemistry, General Science, History and Government, Geography, Agriculture, Computer Studies and Business Studies. Female candidates recorded better mean score performance than male candidates in five subjects: English, Kiswahili, CRE, Home Science, and Art & Design,” said Machogu.

Out of the 30 subjects offered in the 2023 examination,12 recorded a performance improvement.

 Mathematics, Kiswahili, Biology, Biology for the Blind, CRE, Business Studies, German, Music, Chemistry, Building Construction, French, and Electricity recorded a performance improvement.

However,14 subjects including agriculture, Home Science, Wood Work, Metal Work, Power Mechanics, Drawing and Design, and Art and Design recorded a drop in performance.

The CS also attributed the increase in performance to the new grading system that reduced the number of compulsory subjects required to compute the mean grade.

“There were 1,216 (0.14pc) candidates who obtained an overall grade of A in the year 2023 KCSE Examination compared to 1,146 (0.13pc) candidates in the year 2022. The number of candidates who attained the minimum university entry qualification (Grade C+ and above) was 201,133 (22.27pc) in the year 2023 KCSE Examination compared to 173,345 (19.62pc) in the year 2022,” he added.

The 2023 KCSE exams were taken by 903,260 candidates, an increase of 18,037 from 2022.

He congratulated the candidates for their achievements and directed them to log in to the Kenya National Examination Council portal to access their results.