Enable learners to achieve their dreams
National examinations are vital in assessing learning, but these annual tests that eventually determine the future of the learners can be quite tricky. The candidates sit uniform exams despite the different levels of human resource deployment and available facilities.
It has been established that though well-meaning, the school system has ended up shattering and wasting some learners’ dreams. A disturbing finding, for example, is how the school system fails four out of five Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exam candidates.
In the past five years, only two out of every 10 candidates in the KCSE examinations have scored a C+ grade and above. According to Kenya National Examinations Council data, between 2020 and 2024, of the 4,317,349 candidates, who sat the KCSE exams, only 909,784 (21.07 per cent) attained the mean grade C+ or higher, qualifying for university.
Due to some shortcomings, many potentially brilliant learners perform dismally in the exams. Poor infrastructure, understaffed schools and inadequate resources are the common challenges. Insecurity, poverty and natural disasters are among the other adverse factors as schools struggle to meet learners’ basic needs. Staff shortages, delayed capitation and arbitrary transfers of teachers are also impediments.
To foster a conducive learning environment, government funding is needed to bridge the gap. However, it is often delayed or incomplete. Many schools also do not have adequate teaching materials. The government should urgently seek ways and means to address these systemic failures in schools, which conspire to shatter the dreams of many bright learners.
However, a number of schools in remote areas without adequate facilities have put in impressive performances after receiving support to develop facilities and having had their staff shortages eased. As long as the students continue to sit common final examinations, the shortcomings in the institutions must be rectified.
