Candidates who failed to sit for 2023 KCPE to join form 1, says CS Machogu

Education cabinet secretary (CS) Ezekiel Machogu has disclosed that candidates who failed to sit for 2023 KCPE exams will be allowed to join form one and do a qualifying test later.

Speaking during the release of 2023 KCSE results on Monday, January 2024 at Moi Girls High School Eldoret, Machogu said that it was important for candidates who missed the KCPE exams to join form one.

While releasing the 2023 KCPE results on November 23, 2023, the Education CS had promised that the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) would administer a supplementary examination for 9,000 candidates who failed to sit the Examination.

Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu during the release of the 2023 KCPE results at Mtihani House on November 23 ,2023 [Photo: KNEC/X]

“Upon a further audit of the number of candidates who actually failed to sit the examinations, the Council has only been able to trace 2,000 eligible learners.

“Since the number so far located is small to warrant a national examination, it has been decided that the 2,000 candidates join Form One starting January 8th 2024, and be allowed to sit qualifying examinations later.

“They will, however, be advised to ensure they sit their individual qualifying examinations by the time they are in Form Three to enable them to be registered to sit the KCSE Examination at Form Four. I direct the Council to release further guidelines regarding the Entry Examination,” said Machogu.

Machogu added that the release of 2023 KCSE results will be followed by the release of the KPSEA reports for candidates who sat the Grade 6 assessment in 2023 in the next two weeks.

“I urge all parents, guardians and teachers to scrutinise the KPSEA reports to ensure they use the results to monitor learner progress as they transition to Grade 7,” said the Education CS.

Meanwhile, the 2023 KCSE examinations were graded using the new grading system to ensure more candidates qualify for careers in TVET institutions, universities and colleges.

“Arising from the change in the new grading system, therefore, I am directing the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) and universities to align their cluster points and entry requirements with the new reforms to avoid disadvantaging the candidates.

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“I ask the KNEC to complete their processes and handover the final results to KUCCPS to pave the way for the start of the placement process.

He also directed KUCCPS to mount a robust career awareness campaign among the 2023 KCSE candidates to ensure all students understand the new TVET and universities entry requirements under the Higher Education Funding Model that was launched last year.

“More importantly, I direct KUCCPS to immediately put in place measures to allow the 2023 KCSE candidates wishing to join TVET institutions to apply for their courses ahead of the March 2024 admissions,” said the Education CS.