Is a C+ achievable for under per students in KCSE examinations?

A C+ is the minimum grade to help you gain entry to pursue undergraduate degree in Kenya. 

Most students don't attain this grade though according to the KNEC reports published yearly.

In the year 2019, only 125,746 students were able to attain a C+, B-, B, B+, A- and A grades  out of 693,263

This represents a meagre 18.14 percent locking 81.86% of the total number of students who sat for KCSE 2019 out of university admission.

Students in Class

In the year 2018, only 90,377 qualified to join Kenyan universities representing 13.77% of the total number who sat for the KCSE examinations at  ​651,540.

According to the latest data from the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) both public and private universities declared a total of 145,338 capacities. (Standard Digital)

This means that there are tens of thousands of vacancies available in our universities with no students to fill the gap.

So, if half of the 63,102 students who scored a C in the KCSE 2019 examinations were to improve by one grade, all the vacancies in our universities will be filled to the brim.

The question is? How can we help these students to improve?

Before we think of helping these guys improve, let us first discuss the factors that make them perform below poorly.

Factors that hinder KCSE students from Performing and their solutions

1. Lack of knowledge on how to answer questions

Most students are not aware on how to answer KCSE questions. This is because they cannot relate the answer to what the question requires. They are also unaware on the procedure required in answering questions, instructions and keywords used in answering questions such as 'state', 'describe', 'discuss' etc.

Solution

Schools need to hire examiners and facilitators who are compliant and up to date to train students in all cylinders of answering questions. This drill can help pupils improve in a great deal that can spur them to the next higher grade.

2. Lack of Discipline

Lack of discipline is now a national menace. Teachers are finding it difficult to handle students and put them in order. Learning any skill requires discipline because the instructor should be in control. Failure to be in control, means no or minimal learning took place.

Solution

The government, parents and teachers must work together. Teachers should not be blamed on the rising number of indiscipline in our schools. This is a society collective responsibility and if every party takes blame on the other and the government roll out policies without consulting stakeholders, indiscipline will be here to stay and it is the society that will suffer more.

3. Lack of skills in Learning Methods

Learning methods differ from one subject to another. Without teaching students on how to learn in a particular subject will stagnate their progress in that subject.

Solution

This is the duty of teachers to guide pupils on how to learn, revise and answer questions in their subjects. Failure to do this is same as insubordination.