We are just getting some insights into the 2024 KCSE results which continue to elicit various reactions across the country, for example some stakeholders have raised eyebrows as there is a higher number of students who attained a grade E compared to the previous year. A total of 48,333 candidates scored grade E this year, up from 28,174 candidates in the previous year.
The Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, while releasing the results at Mitihani House, noted that a total of 962,512 candidates sat for the 2024 exams, comprising 480,310 males and 482,202 females, marking a historic milestone where female candidates outnumbered males for the first time in KCSE history.
Full KCSE 2024 Grade Distribution
The overall performance breakdown is as follows:
- Grade A: 1,693 candidates
- Grade A-: 7,743 candidates
- Grade B+: 19,150 candidates
- Grade B: 43,120 candidates
- Grade B-: 75,347 candidates
- Grade C+: 99,338 candidates
- Grade C: 111,717 candidates
- Grade C-: 118,781 candidates
- Grade D+: 128,885 candidates
- Grade D: 153,334 candidates
- Grade D-: 151,487 candidates
- Grade E: 48,333 candidates
Students who scored grade D+ and below totaled 62.7% compared to 58.2% with the same score in 2023. Additionally, stakeholders have raised concerns on the quality of education in schools and targeted interventions needed for performance improvement.
Factors Behind Performance Trends
CS Ogamba explained that the improved performance for the top-grade candidates was because of the changed marking criteria. He, however, expressed increased concern about the improvement in low grades. It also augurs with what the then Education CS Ezekiel Machogu said in 2023, citing that Kenya needed urgent education system reform to address the increasing worrying trend in grades.
Future of KCSE Examinations
By 2027, the KCSE system will be phased out, with the last cohort of students sitting for the examination under the current curriculum. This follows the ongoing effort by the government to transition to the Competency-Based Curriculum.