144 • Abolishing School Fees in Africa
Table 4.11
Analysis of Trends in Kenya Certificate of Primary Examination, 2002–05 Performance trends
Performance (mean standard score) District
2002
2003
2004
2005
Improved/ not improved/ fluctuated after FPE 2003–05
Remarks on FPE
Garissa
208.6500
206.9111
219.5600
227.6200
Fluctuated
Gains
Gucha
236.8038
242.8771
250.2462
250.9750
Improved
Gains
Kilifi
279.3048
280.4105
273.4018
263.3105
Not improved
Gains not apparent
Kisii
209.4794
216.5971
217.7156
223.7039
Improved
Gains
Kisumu
261.2143
265.5443
268.8707
273.5371
Improved
Gains
Kwale
263.3974
241.9125
230.7395
226.2500
Not improved
Gains not apparent
Machakos
257.4500
263.6397
255.9242
251.3078
Not improved
Gains not apparent
Makueni
288.1486
289.2657
288.5482
284.6771
Fluctuated
Gains
Mandera
167.7867
192.3400
213.4444
218.2125
Improved
Gains
Mbeere
229.0450
239.1858
231.8970
231.9195
Improved
Gains
Meru Central
211.9830
223.0455
218.9500
211.9026
Fluctuated
Gains
Meru North
233.9425
237.5895
232.6305
238.9560
Fluctuated
Gains
Meru South
249.633
254.9611
250.0107
249.551
Fluctuated
Gains
Mombasa
255.9789
257.7344
241.7411
234.6611
Not improved
Gains not apparent
Mt. Elgon
240.6242
236.6417
243.7208
226.4958
Not improved
Gains not apparent
Nyamira
238.8111
236.1772
244.3450
234.3872
Not improved
Gains not apparent
Rachuonyo
253.6218
256.3372
264.9961
259.3472
Improved
Gains
Suba
237.0932
255.4289
249.3355
243.1995
Fluctuated
Gains
Teso
249.5235
240.9129
239.3435
224.8915
Not improved
Gains not apparent
Trans Mara
220.8488
217.9732
219.9563
222.9004
Improved
Gains
Vihiga
220.2624
224.6033
221.4853
225.9956
Improved
Gains
Source: Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC). Note: FPE = free primary education.
the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC). The directorate has been carrying out national quality assurance and standards assessments in all districts. The assessment of February 2006 illustrates that there has been a steady improvement in the Kenya Certificate of Primary Examination (KCPE) performance in 21 out of the 35 low-achieving districts. Lowachieving districts are defined as those that attained a mean standard score (MSS) below 250 out of a possible 500. An analysis of the KCPE performance trends (see table 4.11) in 21 out of the sampled 35 districts assessed for the period 2002 to 2005 reveals the following: • •
Only seven districts failed to record steady improvement. Six districts demonstrated a fluctuating performance, that is, occasional drop or rise in the mean standard score.