The 2014 KCPE results were released on Dec 29, 2014 without the usual ranking of top candidates and schools. I was particularly interested in the results because my eldest child will sit her KCPE in 2015 and the next in 2016.
These are my thoughts after reviewing the results posted in the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) website in the following documents; 2014 KCPE Essential Statistics [pdf] and 2014 KCPE Press Statement by Cabinet Secretary Prof. Jacob Kaimenyi [pdf].
I was therefore surprised that only 5,584 out of the 880,486 (or is it 877,667) students that sat the KCPE got more than 400 marks; less than 1%. Even more alarming, more than 50% of the candidates obtained less than 250 marks; an average of less than 50% in the respective exams. Would this be considered failing?
This has led me to ask numerous questions;
Are the exams too difficult?
Are the students well prepared to sit the exam?
Is the primary school syllabus in Kenya well thought-out?
What is the ratio of candidates from public and primary schools in the top 7.4% that obtained more than 350 marks?
This may give credence to the conspiracy theory that exam results are standardized, read adjusted, before they are announced.
I learnt that KNEC actually standardize the exam results during the marking process to ensure the different subjects are appropriately weighted to compensate for the variance in the number of questions in different subjects. For example there are 50 questions in the English exam but only 30 in the CRE exam. Variables in the formula are actual marks (X), mean mark (M), and standard deviation (SD)
Education policy makers though need to ensure than all learners, especially those in public schools in poor areas of the country, are receiving the best possible education with the resources available.
[Update]
Changed the charts from percentages to actual numbers listed in the 2014 KCPE Press Statement by Cabinet Secretary Prof. Jacob Kaimenyi.
There is however a discrepancy with the total number of candidates in the results summary, 877,667, and total number of candidates 880,486 quoted in the same document and also in the 2014 KCPE Essential Statistics.
Feb 6, 2014 - Updated section on standardization of exam results.
These are my thoughts after reviewing the results posted in the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) website in the following documents; 2014 KCPE Essential Statistics [pdf] and 2014 KCPE Press Statement by Cabinet Secretary Prof. Jacob Kaimenyi [pdf].
Did most students 'fail'?
After numerous conversations with teachers at my daughters school, I have been treating 400 marks (out of 500) as the pass-mark.I was therefore surprised that only 5,584 out of the 880,486 (or is it 877,667) students that sat the KCPE got more than 400 marks; less than 1%. Even more alarming, more than 50% of the candidates obtained less than 250 marks; an average of less than 50% in the respective exams. Would this be considered failing?
This has led me to ask numerous questions;
Are the exams too difficult?
Are the students well prepared to sit the exam?
Is the primary school syllabus in Kenya well thought-out?
What is the ratio of candidates from public and primary schools in the top 7.4% that obtained more than 350 marks?
Trapped by the Bell Curve
Or are the examiners at the KNEC too faithful to the theory that the results of the candidates must match a normal distribution or bell curve.I learnt that KNEC actually standardize the exam results during the marking process to ensure the different subjects are appropriately weighted to compensate for the variance in the number of questions in different subjects. For example there are 50 questions in the English exam but only 30 in the CRE exam. Variables in the formula are actual marks (X), mean mark (M), and standard deviation (SD)
Education > Exams
I will continue to encourage my children to focus on learning and just do their best in the tests and exams they sit. The crazy exam culture in Kenya is a disservice to learners; many exhausted and stressed by the long school hours. Hopefully doing away with the ranking of candidates and schools will mitigate against this ills.Education policy makers though need to ensure than all learners, especially those in public schools in poor areas of the country, are receiving the best possible education with the resources available.
[Update]
Changed the charts from percentages to actual numbers listed in the 2014 KCPE Press Statement by Cabinet Secretary Prof. Jacob Kaimenyi.
There is however a discrepancy with the total number of candidates in the results summary, 877,667, and total number of candidates 880,486 quoted in the same document and also in the 2014 KCPE Essential Statistics.
Feb 6, 2014 - Updated section on standardization of exam results.
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