EDUCATION CS EZEKIEL MACHOGU
Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu has announced new grading system for Kenya Secondary Certificate Education examinations which will take effect beginning this years’ national exams.
Machogu unveiled this new grading system which will be used in the calculation of a candidate’s main grade, just a month before the commencement of the 2023 KCSE examinations .
Speaking on Monday, September 25, the CS said, unlike the previous system where there were mandatory subjects across three cluster groups: Mathematics, English, Kiswahili, two sciences and one humanity, there would be only two compulsory subjects.
In the new grading approach, the two mandatory subjects will be Mathematics and one language subject, English, Kiswahili or the Kenya Sign Language.
For the rest of the subjects, the Kenya National Examinations Council will pick the five best performed subjects to calculate a student’s KCSE grade.
“In addition to the two mandatory subjects, the Kenya National Examinations Council will consider any other five best, ” he said.
Machogu insisted that the new method aims to increase the number of students passing their KCSE to join institutions of higher learning.
In other news, a few months ago, Machogu directed headteachers of primary and secondary schools to ensure teaching takes place for only six hours.
According to Machogu, learning should happen between 8 am and 3.45 pm on weekdays.
The Education CS said the ministry provides for a maximum of 6 hours of teaching, noting that the education of learners should be natural and not forced.
Additionally, Machogu also banned morning and evening classes in all schools.
The CS stated that the curriculum is very clear on the periods pupils should be in class, which must be adhered to.
Machogu stated that schools were subjecting learners to unwarranted struggles by scheduling very early and late classes.
