President William Ruto has encouraged students who recently sat for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams to utilize the newly introduced mid-year examinations to improve their grades and gain admission to higher learning institutions.
During the handover of Lenana School Primary in Dagoretti South, President Ruto emphasized the government’s dedication to ensuring every student has a chance to succeed, regardless of past performance or unforeseen challenges. “For students who were unable to sit for their KCSE exams, the government now offers another opportunity to prevent losing our children to negative influences,” he stated.
He further added, “Even those who took the exams but didn’t achieve their desired results can now take this chance to enhance their grades.”
The Ministry of Education has recently launched the mid-year KCSE examination, scheduled to be held every July. This initiative aims to allow students to improve their grades and promptly process results, enabling successful candidates to join universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions in September, alongside those who took the end-year exams.
President Ruto assured, “We will ensure the exams are assessed promptly so mid-year candidates can enroll in higher learning institutions without delay.” He stressed the importance of this opportunity, saying, “It’s unfair to judge our children solely based on a few subjects they didn’t excel in. This second chance is vital for their future.”
The mid-year KCSE exam will be available for the next three years, catering to those who wish to improve their performance or missed the initial exams. After this period, the initiative will be reassessed.
This development is viewed as a progressive move towards accommodating various student needs, enhancing educational access, and promoting a more equitable assessment system. It offers an alternative to the traditional KCSE exam, usually conducted at the end of the academic year, providing students with greater flexibility and opportunities for academic success.