More than 20pc of all candidates post university entry points as results released

**Teachers and parents at Jamhuri Boys High School celebrate with Phillip Ndinda and Duncan Juma who scored a mean grade of A and A- respectively in the 2023 KCSE examination on January 8,** **2024.** [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

Education CS Ezekiel Machogu released the highly anticipated 2023 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Examination (KCSE) exam results for 899,453 candidates yesterday.

The results showed 201,133 candidates, representing 22 per cent, attained the minimum entry grade to join the university. This marked an improvement compared to the 173,345 candidates in 2022.

CS Machogu said 1,216 candidates, representing 0.14 per cent, scored grade A. This signifies an increase compared to the 1,146 candidates in 2022.

The CS said national schools produced the highest number of candidates with an overall mean grade of A (889), followed by Extra County (172), Private Schools (143), County Schools (5), and Sub County Schools (7).

“Overall, I am impressed by the quality of grades that are coming out of our sub-county schools that produced 283 candidates with mean grades of A and A- in the 2023 KCSE Examination,” he said.

According to data collected and analysed by The Standard, Moi High School Kabarak posted the highest number of As, with 62 candidates achieving this top grade.

Alliance High School achieved an impressive 54 As, while both Maranda High and Kapsabet Boys posted 53 As each. Additionally, Alliance Girls School secured 43 As, with Kenya High School managing 36.

Maseno tops

Other schools that, according to Standard computations, had a high number of As include Maseno High School with 35, Mangu High School with 34, Kanga High School with 30, and Friends School Kamusinga with 29. These schools constitute the top 10 institutions that posted higher grade As, as per data analyzed by The Standard.

Pangani Girls recorded 27 As, Barichi High School secured 25, Kisii High School managed 24, and Loreto High School (Limuru) and Meru School each had 22.

Kabianga High School and Tenwek High School each attained 20 As, while Moi Forces Academy achieved 18, and Starehe Boys Center and School had 17.

However, there is concern as Education CS Machogu highlighted that 48,174 candidates scored a mean grade of E.

Machogu said this year’s results signify the first KCSE under a new grading structure. In comparison to 2022, there were 18,037 more candidates, with near gender parity – 50.09 per cent male and 49.91 per cent female.

The CS said this indicated the country has achieved gender parity at the secondary education level. However, he said the number of candidates who sat the KCSE was less by 3,685 compared with the number registered to sit the examination.

“I am concerned with the number that failed to sit the examination, as it could point to a situation where some schools might be inflating the figures of registered candidates to meet the minimum threshold of 30 candidates required to be enlisted as an examination centre,” the CS remarked.

He added, “Although there could be more reasons for the ‘missing’ candidates, any misrepresentation of figures could imply a wastage of public funds since the Government pays examination fees for candidates based on the data submitted by schools.”

He directed the relevant Directorate of Quality Assurance to collaborate with the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) to investigate the said candidates and uncover their true identity and whereabouts.

Performance improvement

The results showed that out of the 30 subjects offered in 2023, 12 subjects recorded a significant performance improvement. Female candidates outperformed their male counterparts in English, Kiswahili, CRE, Home Science, and Art & Design.

Male candidates achieved a better mean score performance in Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, General Science, History and Government, Geography, Agriculture, Computer Studies, and Business Studies.

A total of 4,113 candidates were reported to have been involved in examination irregularities, with the Council canceling results of four cases of reported impersonation after completing investigations.

Machogu said the results of the remaining 4,109 candidates who were suspected of engaging in examination irregularities have been withheld pending the completion of investigations into their cases within 20 days.

He also expressed regret that 120 teachers were reported to have been involved in aiding examination malpractices.

The Education CS promised that KPSEA reports for candidates who sat the Grade 6 assessment in 2023 would be released in the next two weeks.

Machogu also urged the Knec to complete their processes and hand over the final results to KUCCPS to pave the way for the start of the placement process.

He directed KUCCPS to put in place measures to allow the 2023 KCSE candidates wishing to join TVET institutions to apply for their courses ahead of the March 2024 admissions.

The CS mentioned that the Treasury has released Sh31.34 billion to support learners from primary and high school, adding that Sh12.8 billion would be used to facilitate the construction of 15,015 classrooms in junior schools for Grade 9 learners next year.

Additional report by Okumu Modachi