Education Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang’i has pulled a fast one and had the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) results released today.
In a surprise move, the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) released the results on Thursday, something that has not been experienced before.
Historically, exam results release dates are known months before and the event is always accompanied by pomp and colour as schools celebrate their performance.
The country is glued to whatever media outlet to get updates.
KNEC Chief Executive Officer, Prof George Magoha accompanied Dr Matiang'i during the event.
The best candidate this year scored 436 out 500 marks.
Dr Matiang’i said that the best candidate in this year’s exam could not make it in the top 90 if these were last year’s results.
“The top candidate this year scored 436 marks, which is a significant drop compared to 449 marks scored by the top candidate last year,” said the CS.
5,190 candidates scored 400 marks and above representing a 31% drop from last year where 7,560 candidates scored 400 marks and above.
Also unexpected was the announcement that the schools would not be ranked this year.
Dr Matiang’i said that the ministry of education did not manage to work in time on a proposal of ranking students or schools’ performances in this year’s national exam, thus the proposal was not presented before Parliament for approval.
Parliament passed a law in August, 2016 reverting to school and candidate ranking in national exams.
The CS noted that once the ministry presents the model of ranking to parliament and it gets necessary approval, the ministry would avail a ranking list of schools and students in the 2016 KCPE.
Over 950,000 pupils sat for the exam in over 10,000 primary schools across the country.
Dr Matiang’i’s radical measures were precipitated by exam cartels that were blamed for making examinations a lucrative venture at the cost of students and parents.
The results were announced at 11.30 am and form one selection expected to follow immediately.
The selection process will close on December 9 and the CS said that parents will have the school placement letters by December 25.