KCSE 2022: Why Machogu May Not Announce Top Candidate Again
Even though the naming of top candidates and schools was of huge importance in previous national exams, the CS is expected to abolish the trend
Marvin Chege 
Education Cabinet Secretary (CS) Ezekiel Machogu will again be expected not to name the top rankings of students as he did in his first release of the results of the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examinations.
Even though the naming of top candidates and schools was of huge importance in previous national exams, the CS is expected to abolish the trend, which created the fierce competition as schools battled hard to outdo each other.
Speaking on Wednesday, December 21, 2022, while releasing the 2022 KCPE results at Mtihani House, Machogu said that he will not introduce the ranking even for the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) exams to curb negative competition.
"Going forward, even for the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) which we’ll release next month, there’ll be no ranking. It introduces unnecessary competition, which isn’t necessarily the case when there’s an instrument of measurement,” CS Machogu said.
“In the overall performance of the 2022 KCPE examination, the overall performance improved compared to that of 2021. The mark of the highest candidate rose four points from 428 to 431 in 2022."
Backing up the CS's sentiments, Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) CEO David Njeng’ere stated that ranking contributes to the toxic competition which in turn increases the likelihood of malpractices in schools.
“It doesn’t have merit. I wish we were discussing the quality of education and how exams can be used as a scorecard on the quality. That should be the conversation like we have generally achieved gender parity in our education and that we have more learners in the average bracket. The tail is becoming shorter.
“We’re raising the stakes (by ranking) and some people feel they must be number one no matter what it takes. Can we bring down the stakes!” Njeng’ere added.
The abolition of rankings took away the traditional burst of song and dance from schools and candidates during the release when top performers were called out on national television. Parents, teachers and union officials termed the 2022 release of the national examination results as colourless with no pomp and colour.
They however welcomed the move saying it would eliminate competition and address some of the ills that came with ranking candidates and schools.
In 2014, then Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Education, Jacob Kaimenyi announced an end to traditional rankings of schools, coming in the wake of rampant cheating that exposed Kenya's national exam level of credibility.
Kaimenyi in his explanation noted that his decision was aimed to discourage cheating in the national assessment, as key stakeholders in the sector held that school ranking tempted schools into cheating, as well as creating undue pressure for schools to perform.
In 2021, Kenya High School was announced as the best school with a mean score of 10.467, followed closely by Kapsabet Boys with a score of 10.11.
The KCSE exam, which is taken by students in their final year of secondary school, is a crucial step in determining their future educational and career paths. In 2022 884,263 candidates sat their exams between November and December.
The results not only determine which students will be able to move on to university but also play a role in determining which careers they will be eligible for in the future.
Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu with President William Ruto at State House before the release of the 2022 KCPE results. /STATE HOUSE KENYA
