KCPE exams-Do they really need to be scrapped?

The recent move by MP Jeremiah Kioni to have the KCPE exams abolished has created a lot of controversy in the education sector.Mr.Kioni points out that the exam has outlived its usefulness and hence should be done away with. In deed, his supporters allege that the exam is often used as a tool to lock out many deserving students from high school education.

KCPE exams were introduced in 1985 in line with the new 8-4-4 education system. Previously; the country was using the 7-4-2-3 system of education. Former president Moi hoped that the new education system would help inculcate practical skills in students so that they could be self relient.It was hoped that this would lead to a faster economic growth for the country.However,the results have been mixed.

Any exam system ostensibly acts as a tool to check on the learners progress and to gauge whether they have mastered the necessary skills before they can move to the next level of learning.However, exams in Kenya have acquired a new meaning. In fact, the exam system in the country supports a multibillion shilling industry that includes publishers, teachers offering tution, textbook authors and so own. In many cases, the national exams; KCPE and KCSE mainly act as a screening tool for applicants to the next stage. Since there are few opportunities for all the students to advance to the next level, it is imperative that a system be set forth so reduce the numbers that advance to the next level.However,even if the exams are abolished, the fact remains that there are simply not enough high schools to absorb all the class eight students.

The first KCPE exam was topped by Naeem Samnakay who went to top the KCSE exams four years later at the Alliance High school. He is currently a pediatrician surgeon in Australia.However, not all KCPE stars have had such an amazing success. Some have fallen by the wayside quite literally. Could it be that the KCPE exams test entirely different concepts than the KCSE exams? Some of the notable names that went on to top KCSE without having been top in KCPE include Fred Were, who topped the KCSE exams in 1990 at the Starehe Boys Center, Samuel Gikandi top student in 1999 at the Alliance High school,Amit Monga,top student in 2001 at the Starehe Boys center,Dhar Tishampati,top student in KCSE 2000 at the Mang’u high school,Kirimania Murithi; top student in 1994 at the Alliance High school, James Kandie Rotich,top student in 2005 at the Moi high school kabarak.

However, the other counterargument could be that it is really hard to separate the top 100 students and given another exam, the positions would alternate and hence the slight variation in KCSE/KCSE.While not exactly the best students nationally, the above students at least near the top in the KCPE exams.