The Ministry of Education has unveiled the new grading structure set to be implemented in the 2023 KCSE Examination.
According to the new grading system unveiled by Education CS Ezekiel Machogu, only two mandatory subjects will be required for computing the mean grade.
The only two mandatory subjects will be Mathematics and one language subject.
“In the new grading system that will be applied to the 2023 KCSE examination, the only two mandatory subjects will be Mathematics and one language, (English, Kiswahili or Kenyan Sign Language),” Machogu said.
In addition to the two mandatory subjects, KNEC will have to consider any other five best-performed subjects by the candidate.
Speaking on Monday during the launch of the examination season at the KNEC headquarters, Machogu said the new reform measure is expected to increase the number of students qualifying for universities, Diploma and TVET training at Certificate and Artisan levels.
Previously, the mean grades for KCSE exams were computed from five mandatory subjects across three cluster groups.
They included; Mathematics, English, Kiswahili, two sciences and one humanity.
Basic Education PS Belio Kipsang said the new grading system aims to focus more on the interests and competence of learners.
“A student with the ability and interest in medicine or engineering need not be prevented from qualifying for the courses just because a subject that was used to grade him pulled down his overall mean grade,” he said.
He said grading the national education system should be for certification and not for placement of students in higher learning institutions.
“The integration of certification and placement in the KCSE grading structure has disadvantaged many students with different orientations in abilities and interests,” Kipsang said.
He said literacy and numeracy abilities will be the key focus in grading future exams.
The Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms noted that the 8-4-4 system focused largely on academics and rote learning thereby denying learners opportunities to develop critical skills and values necessary for character formation.
They said the previous grading subjects disadvantage some learners whose best-performing subject is not considered if not within the cluster.
