Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu announced Monday that only two subjects will be mandatory for computing students’ mean grade in the 2023 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination.
Previously, grades from five mandatory subjects were used: Mathematics, English, Kiswahili, two sciences, and one humanity. Now, Machogu said, the only mandatory subjects will be Mathematics and one language – English, Kiswahili, or Kenyan Sign Language.
“In addition to the two mandatory subjects, the Kenya National Examinations Council will consider any of the other five best-performing subjects,” Machogu said during a stakeholder meeting in Nairobi.
The reform aims to increase the number of students qualifying for universities, diploma programs, and technical and vocational education and training at the certificate and artisan levels, according to Machogu.
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The changes come amid concerns that the previous system disadvantaged students who did not perform well in the mandatory subjects but excelled in others.
“This new grading system will enable our learners to exploit their strengths and talents,” Machogu said.
The announcement came as the government launched the 2023 national examinations season. Just under a million students are expected to sit for the KCSE exam in November.
Machogu urged students not to engage in exam cheating, warning that those caught would face “stiff consequences.” He said the government has deployed technology and other measures to curb leaks and malpractices.
