A lockdown, eight-month school closure and a half-hearted attempt at online learning did not stop the 2020 KCPE exam candidates from posting good grades.
Candidates, parents, and education managers had worried the performance would be poor because of the Covid-19 disruptions.
Stakeholders called for the examiners to factor in the unique circumstances, but the candidates weathered the storm and are all expected to transition to secondary school. It is the government policy to ensure 100 per cent transition.
Education CS George Magoha promised every candidate will get a place in secondary school as he announced the results on Thursday at the Kenya National Examination Council headquarters.
“We are determined to work with the relevant agencies to ensure that no candidate misses a place in secondary school,” Magoha said.
Of the more than one million candidates, 8,091 scored more than 400 marks. Another 243,320 got between 301 and 400 marks.
Some 586,886 candidate scored between 201 and 300 marks while 262,307 candidates had between 101 and 200 marks. Only 1,173 pupils had 100 marks and below.
The results came exactly 23 days after completion of the examination and four months late after delayed commencement. The exam is usually administered in November and results released in December.
The number of candidates who were absent slightly increased from 6,272 in 2019 to 12,424 in 2020. A total of 1,191,725 registered for the exam but 1,179,182 sat the test.
“Many doomsayers predicted that candidates of the 2020 KCPE exam will perform dismally. The good news, however, is that performance is commendable,” Magoha said.
A major shift was recorded in the performance of the top 15 students with girls and public schools taking the positions. Boys and private schools have dominated in the past.
Eight of the top 15 were girls while 10 of the candidates studied in public schools.
Little-known Kari Mailu Primary School in Makueni county produced the best candidate in Faith Mumo who scored 433 marks out of a possible 500.
Nanzala Wesonga from Chogoria Girls Primary School was the second-best candidate with 432 marks.
Angel Murithi was the third-best student, scoring 431 marks. She tied with Samuel Wanyonyi.
Five subjects recorded an improvement in the 2020 KCPE exam compared to 2019. These are English Composition, Kiswahili Lugha, Kenyan Sign Language Objective, Mathematics and Religious Education.
Five other papers, English Language, Kiswahili Insha, Kenyan Sign Language Composition, Science and Social Studies, recorded a drop in performance compared to 2019.
Female candidates performed slightly better than their male counterparts in English, Kiswahili and Kenyan Sign Language. Male candidates performed better in Mathematics, Science, Social Studies and Religious Education.
Some 20 counties also registered more female than male candidates.
They include Isiolo, Meru, Vihiga, Kakamega, Busia, Nairobi, Kwale, Elgeyo Marakwet, Siaya, Tharaka Nithi, Kisii, Kisumu, Bungoma, Kilifi, Lamu, Bomet, Mombasa, Uasin Gishu, Makueni and Migori.
A candidate with special needs bettered the performance of the top one in the category by scoring 420 marks. The top pupil with special needs in 2019 had 414 marks.
Magoha commended teachers for preparing the pupils adequately for the exam despite the unique circumstances.
Although the Education ministry argues that the examination calendar was reviewed to push the exams from November 2020 to March 2021, other stakeholders called for the results to be standardised.
In January, the Education ministry promised that no child would be disadvantaged in the exams.
Magoha said that the setting and marking of the exams would factor in the time learners lost during the nine-month Covid-19 shutdown.
Form 1 selection
Magoha’s next hurdle is how to ensure the million-plus children get places in secondary schools.
The selection for Form 1 places will begin on May 28, with the government saying all the candidates will get places. Admission to secondary school will be in July.
Like last year, those with 400 marks and above are likely to secure places in national schools.
The exit of this year’s KCSE cohort will create room for only 750,000 students, but Magoha said there are enough slots to accommodate all the candidates.
The Form 1 admission will push the number of learners in secondary schools to over three million, raising fears of congestion in the institutions.
The National Education Management Information System shows there are 2.9 million students in secondary school currently.
Cheating
Seven candidates were found with prepared notes in exam rooms.
Magoha said all results will be released, but culprits will be pursued.
Meanwhile, Teachers Service Commission CEO Nancy Macharia said all teachers can now access the Covid-19 vaccine after President Uhuru Kenyatta approved the proposal.
Initially, it was teachers above the age of 50 who were prioritised during the first phase of vaccination.
Macharia urged all tutors to take advantage of the new directive to get the jab as schools are set to open in May.
Macharia said that at least 15 primary school teachers have died since the Covid-19 pandemic struck in March last year.
“We have lost three deputy headteachers and eight headteachers to the pandemic,” she said.
Macharia said going forward, the commission has come up with measures to protect all teachers from the virus.
“First we instructed our medical health insurance provider to cover all teachers against Covid-related ailments which they have since complied with,” Macharia said. BY THE STAR