Government Seeks Students Who Scored ‘E’ in 2023 KCSE

The Ministry of Education in Kenya has launched a search for the approximately 48,000 students who scored grade ‘E’ in the 2023 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE). The aim is to enroll them in Tertiary and Vocational Training Institutions for craft courses.

Key Points

1. Transition to Vocational Training: Basic Education Principal Secretary Dr. Belio Kipsang emphasized that students who scored low grades (E) in the KCSE should transition to Tertiary and Vocational Training Institutions for craft courses.
2. Government’s Plan: Dr. Kipsang mentioned that the Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the Interior and National Administration counterparts, has outlined plans to address the challenge of students scoring ‘E’ grades.
3. Addressing Waste of Potential: The PS highlighted the need to address the challenge of students scoring low grades, emphasizing that it represents a significant waste that must be dealt with adequately to enable more students to contribute productively to society.
4. Resource Allocation: Dr. Kipsang noted that the government allocates 30 percent of its resources, amounting to Sh650 billion, to the education sector and emphasized the importance of seeing a return on this investment.
5. Strengthening Quality Assurance: The Education Ministry plans to increase and regularize school visitations and classroom observations to provide support to teachers on curriculum delivery and assessment. Quality assurance collaboration with the Teachers Service Commission will also be strengthened.
6. Coordination for School Improvement: Dr. Kipsang stressed the need for better coordination among schools, teachers, parents, and students, emphasizing that it is a crucial aspect of school improvement.
7. KCSE Results Analysis: A total of 48,174 students scored a mean grade of E out of 899,453 candidates who sat for the KCSE exam in 2023. Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu expressed concern over the high number of candidates scoring low grades.
8. Investigation and Report: The Directorate of Quality Assurance will work with field officers and teachers to investigate the cases of ‘E’ grades in each county and submit a report.

Final Thoughts

The government’s proactive approach to identifying and addressing the challenges faced by students who scored ‘E’ grades in the 2023 KCSE is a step toward ensuring that every learner has an opportunity for further education and skill development. The emphasis on collaboration and coordination among education stakeholders reflects a commitment to improving the overall quality of education in the country.