Goodbye KCPE: 2023’s Historic Last Dance as CBC Takes Shape

The final Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) results were released by Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu, on Thursday November 23, 2023.

Speaking at the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC)’s, New Mitihani House in Nairobi, the CS officiated the event where he also announced the best performed candidate.

Notably, the CS was accompanied by KNEC’s CEO David Njeng’ere and PS Belio Kipsang, among other education officials in this year’s landmark for the Kenyan Education System.

KNEC CEO David Njeng’ere during his speech noted, “This year’s results will be the last of the KCPE Examination, under the 8-4-4 system.”

38 Years of KCPE

Furthermore, he revealed that 39 cohorts have sat these exams since inception in 1985, during the reign of former President Daniel Moi.

In addition, he pointed out that the system has undergone two major reviews, one on the awarding criteria and another on assessment tools.

This year’s performances depict a last dance record as the country paves way to a full transition of the Competence Based Curriculum (CBC) System, at Primary level.

About 1.4 million candidates registered for the final ‘Class 8’ paper, according to the Ministry of Education, a record on itself.

“I am pleased to state that the 2023 KCPE examinations were successfully administered to the 1,406,557 candidates who sat the examination,” noted KNEC chairman Julius Nyabundi.

Additionally, the Maseno University vice chancellor acknowledged the remarkable efforts from various stakeholders in achieving this fete, despite the challenges faced during the examination period.

KPSEA Results

PS Belio Kipsang also revealed that KCPE marking was given priority as the Ministry prepares to release the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) 2023 report by January 2024.

Also Read: Machogu Releases 2023 KCPE Results

Furthermore, CS Machogu assured the country that the government is fully prepared for a seamless transition from the 8-4-4 system to the CBC.

“Many of the issues that were unclear in this process up to last year have been solved through the Presidential Working Party on Education Reform report,” he said.

It is important to note that the CBC system had already been effective since it was first implemented in the year 2017.

In addition, the CBC itself adds to 2023 KCPE’s ‘landmark status’ as it marked the last time the 8-4-4 and CBC systems were colluding at Primary education level.

Also, an additional 1.2 million candidates registered for the KPSEA nationwide paper, sat by grade six students of the CBC system.

Note that the 8-4-4 system first collided with the CBC system after it was implemented during former President Uhuru’s tenure, in 2017.

From 8.4.4 to Competency Based Curriculum

The former Head of State lauded the switch of system as transformational and defended reasons for its implementation.

“The challenge of the day calls us to imagine a system that creates responsible citizens as opposed to subjects, a system that celebrates the creative potential of all our children as opposed to one that leaves them with labels of failure if they do not pass exams,” President Kenyatta said.

However, this meant that it would collide with the initial 8-4-4 system, which first came into effect back in 1985.

According to CS Machogu, KNEC registered 330,370 candidates for KCPE exams in 1985, of which 195,619 (59.2%) were male while 134,751 (40.8%) were female.

Among the failures of the previous 8-4-4 system included putting all students in one basket including those with different abilities.

This made it difficult for some students to cope. Additionally, the system was viewed as being heavily exam oriented.

The implementation of the new system meant 8-4-4’s latter years would co-currently run toe-to-toe with the new system’s early years, until a full change of phase was achieved.

Also Read: KCPE 2023: How to Check Results Online

Pupils who were already in their final stages of the old system, however, couldn’t manage to switch and roll out in the new system.

Additionally, the new system would play it’s part of absorbing eligible pupils mostly made up of junior-primary category classes.

Implementation of CBC

All pupils who were in class 1 and below at the time, switched to the CBC system whereas those in class 2 and above formed the last lot of the 8-4-4 system.

Notably, the new curriculum focuses on identifying the potential that every learner brings to the classroom.

It aims at nurturing the potential through various pathways, as the student goes through various stages of their education.

At first, the system faced widespread protests from a faction who wondered how the government could achieve the change of system and make it effective.

Furthermore, it was hugely affected by the COVID 19 global pandemic which came in between the education system’s transition phase.

It clearly seemed like the switch would confuse even the learners themselves, but the decision had already been made.

Nevertheless, it was a bitter pill to swallow for critics as President Kenyatta remained adamant on the change of system.

He asserted, “A system that brings about freedom to be creative and innovative as individuals.  This is the promise of the CBC,” he said then.

The former head of state spoke in June 2022 during a press briefing, noting that in December 2022, the pioneer CBC Class, which was in its sixth grade, would transition to Junior Secondary.

On the other hand, the old 8-4-4 system’s remaining role was to accommodate the last cohorts of pupils who were still enrolled in the soon to be abandoned system.

As Dr Machogu released the results, this year’s candidates surely formed a historic and final ‘class 8 class of 2023′.

In addition, the candidates will also boast being the last Form 1,2,3 & 4 classes as Kenya waves goodbye to 8-4-4 system.

Also Read: KCPE 2023: Machogu Announces Dates for Form 1 Placement

Secondary School Placement

PS Belio Kipsang further announced that the candidates will have known their secondary school placements before the end of the year.

“We decided to release the results at this time so that we could give parents ample time for preparation of Secondary education for the students,” Announced PS Belio Kipsang.

For 38 years, KCPE has remained a mandatory bridge between primary and secondary education under the 8-4-4 system.

As Kenya waves goodbye to KCPE, we usher in the new sheriff in town, the KPSEA whose 2023 report shall be released by January 2024.

In its second year, KPSEA saw a record 1.2 million pupils register for the paper as they prepare to join junior secondary schools.