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Kenya’s Education Ministry Announces New Grading System for KCSE Exams
The Kenyan Ministry of Education announced a new grading system for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations on Monday, September 25, 2023. The new system is expected to increase the number of students pursuing tertiary education.
Under the new system, only two subjects will be mandatory for computing the mean grade: Mathematics and one language (English, Kiswahili, or Kenyan Sign Language). The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) will also consider the five best-performed subjects in addition to the two mandatory subjects.
“In addition to the two mandatory subjects – the Kenya National Examinations Council will consider any other five best performed subjects. It is expected that the new reform measure will increase the number of students qualifying for universities, Diploma and TVET training at Certificate and Artisan levels,” said Ezekiel Machogu, the Education CS.
The previous system required students to take five mandatory subjects across three clusters: Mathematics, English, Kiswahili, two sciences, and one humanity. This system was perceived to disadvantage some learners whose best-performing subject was not considered if not within the clusters.
The new system is expected to increase the number of students qualifying for universities, diploma programs, and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) training at certificate and artisan levels.
The Ministry of Education is also reviewing the minimum entry requirements for preservice teacher education programs, such as the Diploma in Primary Teacher Education (DPTE) and Diploma in Early Childhood Teacher Education (DECTE). Teacher trainees will now be admitted under a reviewed subject cluster requirements and grades.
Burkina Faso Junta Foils Coup Attempt, Arrests Suspects
Burkina Faso’s military government claimed on Wednesday that it had foiled a coup attempt. The coup was planned by a group of officers and others who wanted to destabilize the country. The military prosecutor said that four officers have been detained.
The junta has said elections will take place by July next year. On Tuesday, rumours of a brewing mutiny led hundreds of people to take to the streets of the capital, Ouagadougou, in support of the junta. On the same day, the authorities suspended the French-language news magazine Jeune Afrique, accusing it of publishing articles discrediting the armed forces.
The widespread jihadist insurgency, which spilled over from neighbouring Mali in 2015, has complicated plans to hand over power to civilians by next year. About 6,000 people have been killed this year alone in jihadist attacks, according to data from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (Acled).
Since taking power, Capt Traoré has moved to cut links to France, the former colonial power. He ordered French forces based in the country to help tackle the Islamist insurgency to leave, and launched mass recruitment drives to reinforce the security forces. Earlier this month, Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali – three neighbouring countries all threatened by jihadist forces and where the army has seized power in the past year – established a defence pact in a bid to support each other against any armed rebellion or external aggression.
Kenya Launches New Preventive Healthcare Program
The Kenyan government has adopted a new approach to providing basic healthcare and medical services to its citizens. President William Ruto has said that the fight against diseases, especially preventable ones, can only be won if more time and resources are devoted to preventive medicine.
In a speech at the Uhuru Park grounds in Nairobi Monday, President Ruto said that the new focus on preventive and promotive healthcare is key to improving the health of the Kenyan people. He said that for decades, the government has focused on curative services and primary healthcare, with little attention paid to preventive and promotive interventions.
“The main reason for this is that our health system devoted itself exclusively to the provision of curative services and primary healthcare, and gave minimal attention to preventive and promotive health interventions that begin at home often before the onset of serious illness,” said President Ruto.
To address this gap, the government is deploying 100,000 community health promoters to provide a defined package of preventive and promotive health services at the household level. Each promoter will be mandated to serve 100 homes and will be provided with basic equipment for household health screening.
“Each promoter is mandated to serve 100 homes, and will be provided with basic equipment for household health screening,” he said.
The government will also provide the promoters with smartphones so that they can transmit and receive necessary information, instruction, and advice. The government will also be responsible for remunerating the promoters in the form of stipends.
President Ruto said that the new program is a bold statement of the government’s intent to take a big step towards winning the nation’s long-standing struggle against disease. He said that the program will also help in the registration of all households in the country.
“By launching the essential kits to equip community health promoters, we are making a bold statement of our intent to take a big step towards winning our nation’s long-standing struggle for freedom from disease using a bottom up strategy,” said President Ruto.
The chairman of the Parliamentary Health Committee, Robert Pukose, and his Senate counterpart, Jackson Mandago, said that they are ready to pass the bills on the program into law to ensure its successful implementation. Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja also praised the program, saying that it would help to reduce funds spent on curative healthcare.
The program is a significant departure from the traditional approach to healthcare delivery in Kenya. It is hoped that the new focus on preventive and promotive healthcare will lead to a healthier and more productive Kenyan population.
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