Concern as public schools record drop in 2015 KCPE results

Concern as public schools record drop in 2015 KCPE results

Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has today (Wednesday) expressed concern over a decline in the performance of public schools in KCPE exams after they recorded a seven-point drop from an average mark of 187.58 in 2014 to 180.87 in 2015.

Private schools however recorded a slight increase from an average mark of 229.94 in 2014 to 230.14 in 2015.

Matiang’i, who was speaking during a ceremony to announce the 2015 KCPE results at the Kenya National Examinations Council headquarters at Mtihani House, blamed truancy by teachers for the decline and warned them against absenteeism.

“Releasing results should just be a ritual, we must all ask ourselves which part we play in these results,” he said.

The CS said that going forward teachers’ promotion would be based on performance instead of times spent in service, saying that the current system of promotion was not right.

“Promotion will henceforth be based on performance, not presence,” he quipped.

Matiang’i also expressed concern over the rising number in cases of cheating, adding that someone has to be held accountable for the unfortunate occurrence and noted that 2,709 candidates had their results cancelled as a result of cheating.

He however pointed out that 12 counties did not register any cases of cheating, adding that they needed to be emulated.

He lauded the education sector for achieving gender parity but noted that in some counties the situation was different.

“We have achieved gender parity in education, with 49.6 percent girls and 50.4 percent boys,” he said.

Female candidate’s performed marginally better than their male counterparts in English language, English composition, Kiswahili language and Kiswahili insha.

Matiang’i announced that form one selection will begin on January 21 and said that he would meet with the Private School Association on January 5 to address concerns raised over the selection formula.

The Private Schools Association is arguing that the new set of guidelines for the form one selection gives preference to candidates from public schools, a move the government says is aimed at ensuring pupils from poor families get admission in national schools.

Also present was KNEC Chief Executive Officer Joseph Kivilu who said that the exams were administered successfully across the country, adding that those who were involved in cheating will have their exams withheld.

Kivilu also said that 157 persons including teachers, police and candidates have already been charged in court for engaging in exam irregularities.

Candidature in the KCPE examination had increased from 880,486 in 2014 to 927,789 in 2015.

 

 

 

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kcpe cheating 2015 cancelled results Private schools Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i KNEC Chief Executive Officer Joseph Kivilu absenteeism

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