The Story of 2024 KCSE Cohort: Historic Challenges and Triumphs.
The 2024 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination recorded significant achievements, overcoming numerous challenges to deliver one of the best results since the 2016 education reforms.
This examination also marked a series of historic firsts, reflecting changes in gender representation and academic performance trends.
Milestones and Key Statistics
- Historic Gender Representation: For the first time since the inception of KCSE in 1989, more females (482,202) than males (480,310) sat for the examination, representing 50.10% and 49.90% of the total 962,512 candidates, respectively.
- Competency-Based Curriculum Transition: The KCSE will be phased out by 2027, making way for competency-based assessments under the competency-based curriculum.
- University Qualification: A record 246,391 candidates attained a mean grade of C+ and above, qualifying for university admission—an increase from 201,133 in 2023.
Resilience Amidst Challenges
The 2024 KCSE cohort faced disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, delaying their Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examinations from 2020 to March 2021. Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) CEO, David Njeng’ere, praised the students’ resilience in adapting to these unprecedented changes.
- Calendar Adjustments: This class was the first to sit for national examinations in March instead of the traditional October-November season.
- Performance Highlights: In contrast to the inaugural KCSE in 1989, where only one candidate attained an A (plain), 1,693 candidates achieved this top grade in 2024.
Changes in Grading and Subjects
Reforms introduced in 2023 reduced the number of subjects considered for grading. Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba explained that the 2024 results were based on a revised system, including mathematics, the best-performed language (English, Kiswahili, or Kenyan Sign Language), and the best five other subjects.
- Performance Trends:
- Improvement in 17 subjects, including Mathematics, Biology, Physics, and Computer Studies.
- Decline in 10 subjects, such as English, Kiswahili, and Music.
- Gender-Based Performance: Female candidates outperformed males in seven subjects, including English and Kiswahili, while males excelled in 23 subjects, such as Physics and Business Studies.
Higher Education Funding Dilemma
The high number of university qualifiers poses a financial challenge for the government.
A 2023 funding model for higher education was nullified by the High Court, and the Education Cabinet Secretary did not clarify if all qualifiers would receive sponsorship.
Historically, the government set cut-off points to manage sponsorships, with those excluded pursuing self-sponsored programs or private education.
Read Also: St. Peters Abwao KCSE Results Withheld by KNEC Over Exam Malpractice Claims.
Examination System and Infrastructure
Schools faced delays in accessing results due to high traffic on the KNEC website. Dr. Njeng’ere assured that official printed results would be sent to schools by the following week. He also defended the performance of national schools, highlighting entry behavior and resource allocation disparities.
- Sub-County Schools: These institutions, predominantly day schools, continue to operate under limited government funding, recently reduced to approximately Sh15,000 per learner annually. Despite this, they showcased strong performance, challenging the perceived advantages of boarding schools.
Conclusion
The 2024 KCSE results demonstrate the resilience and determination of Kenyan students and educators. While challenges persist, the milestones achieved this year signal progress and highlight areas for continued focus, particularly in equitable funding and resource distribution.
The Story of 2024 KCSE Cohort: Historic Challenges and Triumphs.
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