The number of students who scored As in 2017 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (K.C.S.E) has increased from 141 in 2016 to 142 this year.
This is according to results released by Education Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang’i on Thursday.
Surprisingly, the number of students who scored A minus (A-) drastically reduced by over half.
They came down to 2,714 from 4,645 in 2016.
In general, the number of students set to join public universities has declined.
Pangani Girls’ in Naiorbi produced the best candidate in the country.
Karimi Naomi scored an A plain of 87.011 followed by Sharon Chepchumba from Moi Girls Eldoret with 86.830 then Kamau Brian Maina from Alliance High School with 86. 7572 points.
Girls performed better that boys this time round.
Also, The Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) has withheld the results for 10 schools pending investigations; affected candidates will know their fate on January 18.
Before he released the results at Nairobi School, the Education CS met President Uhuru Kenyatta.
The President directed the CS to work together with the Ministry of Health to enroll all the 3 million secondary students to the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) scheme.
Uhurun also told Matiang’i and KNEC Chairman Prof George Magoha to institutionalize reforms in the education sector to maintain the gains achieved in the last few years.
The President called on Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to reward principals, schools and subject teachers who excelled to promote continued high performance.
For teachers who have been found culpable of abetting cheating during the examination period, the President directed the DPP Keriako Tobiko to make presentation of their charges in court so that the cases can be expedited.