Eight out of the top 15 candidates who sat the 2020 Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) Examination were girls.
The top candidate was Mumo Faith Kawi from KARI-Mwailu Primary School in Makueni County. She scored 433 marks compared to 440 marks scored by the best candidate in 2019.
Wesonga Yuvet Nanzala from Chogoria Girls and Murithii Angel Gakenia from Maseno Girls Boarding School tied at the second position, having both scored 432 marks.
They were followed by Samuel Wanyonyi, Castro Williams and Laureen Tarus who tied with 431 marks.
Other top performing candidates were Abiud Kipkurui (430 marks), Margaret Mwangi (429 marks), Bernice Omondi (429 marks), and Joyce Nkatha (429 marks) .
Education Cabinet Secretary, Professor George Magoha has further announced that public schools shone in the 2020 KCPE, scooping 10 of the top 15 overall slots in the Examination.
He said this while releasing the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) results at Mtihani House in Nairobi on Thursday, April 15, 2021.
In a televised briefing, CS Magoha said the overall performance for the year 2020 improved significantly compared to the previous year.
Professor Magoha said, “Although the mark of the highest candidate dropped from 440 to 433 in 2020, the mean average performance and quality of grades for all candidates is higher.”
“For example, whereas 1,393 candidates scored between 01 and 99 marks in the 2019 KCPE, that number went down to only 307 in the 2020 KCPE. This was an indicator that most candidates scored better grades than the previous years.” the Education CS noted.
589,027 candidates, comprises 49.43 percent of all candidates who sat the 2020 KCPE Examinations, scored between 200 and 299 marks.
The Education CS further said English Composition, Kiswahili Lugha, Kenyan Sign Language Objective, Mathematics and Religious Education recorded improved performance in 2020 compared to 2019.
Howevr, English Language, Kiswahili Insha, Kenyan Sign Language Composition, Science and Social Studies recorded a drop in performance in this year’s exams compared to 2019.
CS Magoha said the release of the exams was unique because of the COVID-19 crisis that has posed a threat to all learning institutions in the country.
“It is the first time that we are releasing results of KCPE in April. And it’s the first time we release the results when our country is busy managing the effects and spread of COVID-19,” said CS Magoha.
1,179,182 million candidates sat the KCPE exam which was done from March 22 to 24 this year.
On examination irregularities, the Education Cabinet Secretary said 5 cases of impersonation were detected during the examination period while 7 candidates were found in possession of pre-prepared notes in examination rooms, adding that “…cases of irregularities were either stamped out or nipped in the bud before they could happen.”
Out of the total number of candidates, 590,450 were boys representing 50.07 percent while 588,742 were girls representing 49.93 percent.
However, CS Magoha has assured that all students who sat for KCPE will transition to secondary school with Form One selection slated to begin May 28, 2021.
The CS said the Government will, for the second year running, give 9000 scholarships under the Elimu Scholarship Programme, to students from needy backgrounds.
