CS for Education Prof George Magoha hands over the 2020 KCSE exams results to chairman of knec council Dr. John Onsati. They are flanked by PS for Basic Education Dr. Julius Jwan and CEO knec Dr. Mercy Karogo.
Education Cabinet Secretary Prof. George Magoha has ordered the Directorate for Quality Assurance and Standards to investigate the cause of low female candidates’ representation in five counties in the 2019 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education exams and high number of pregnant candidates that sat for their KCSE exams in hospital.
According to the results released by the education CS on Tuesday Five Counties registered the highest disparity between the number of Boys and girls that sat for the National exam.
The results indicated the lowest numbers of girls that sat for the National exams in Arid and Semi Arid Counties of Mandera, Wajir, Garissa, Turkana and Homa Bay County from Nyanza.
A total of 652 female candidates sat the 2020 KCSE Examination in hospitals after delivery compared to 282 in 2019.
Bungoma County had the highest number of girls who did their exams in hospital at 43, Meru County had 38 girls, Nakuru County 36 girls, Kisii 36, followed by Nandi County at 31.
Out of 747,161 students that sat for the National exams, 380,327 were male while 366,834 were female, representing 50.9 percent and 49.1 percent of the total candidature respectively.
Fifteen counties had more female candidates than male candidates compared to 17 counties in 2019.
The 15 counties were: Taita Taveta, Kwale, Nyandarua, Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Murang’a, Kiambu, Machakos, Kitui, Meru, Nandi, Elgeyo Marakwet, Kakamega, Vihiga and Kisumu.
A total of 893 candidates who sat the 2020 KCSE attained a mean grade of A Plain while 143,140 scored C+ and above guaranteeing their placement in public universities in the country.
CS Magoha said more boys than girls sat the examination at 50.9 percent and 49.9 percent respectively.
Prof Magoha said there were no cancelled KCSE exam results and lauded the candidates for defying all odds, including the Covid-19 pandemic, to shine in their examinations.