From Pioneer to Last Cohort: A Mother-Daughter Duo in KCPE Exam
As the nation celebrated the final KCPE results, a family in Kawangware Estate, Nairobi County, expressed their joy for two of its members.
Mary Muluka and her last-born daughter Precious Rosa, whose names will be remembered as part of the beginning and end of the 8-4-4 educational system, were elated over Precious’s stellar performance of 382 marks, announced moments after the official release of the 2023 KCPE results on Thursday afternoon.
Precious expressed her surprise at the results, expecting a lower outcome due to nervousness and anxiety. Her happiness and satisfaction were evident upon seeing the results. Mary, her mother, conveyed her pride in her daughter’s achievement, emphasizing the joy of closing the chapter on KCPE.
“I am incredibly proud of my daughter,” Mary continued.
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The occasion shared by Mary and her daughter Precious marks a shift in the educational curriculum spanning nearly four decades and generations. It fulfills the aspirations of both mother and daughter.
Mary belonged to the inaugural 8-4-4 class, whereas her daughter Precious is a member of the class’s final cohort.
Reflecting on the historical significance, Precious remarked on the unique experience of being among the first individuals to undergo KCPE under the new system. Mary shared her happiness at being part of this historic moment in Kenya.
Recalling the transition from Class Six to an additional year in Class 8, Precious highlighted the challenges faced, including the lack of teachers trained for the extra year and limited resources.
Mary elaborated on the original 8-4-4 structure, drawing parallels with the current competency-based curriculum (CBC). She provided an in-depth analysis of the origins of the 8-4-4 system, stating that it, like the CBC, had a difficult beginning.
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Mary reminisced about the lost aspects during the transition, such as compulsory Agriculture classes and hands-on activities like cultivating small plots and building traditional African huts for exams, emphasizing the independence gained by those born during that time.
As the nation accelerates the transition from the 8-4-4 educational system to the Competency-Based Curriculum, there is a sense of melancholy regarding the system’s transformation over the past forty years.
Discussing the anxiety associated with grades, Precious noted the pressure to achieve good results for admission to desired schools, leading to choices that may not align with personal preferences.
The adoption of an examination-focused educational framework imposed considerable stress on Precious and other members of the new generation of 8-4-4 learners.
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Precious states, “The grade is what gives us anxiety; that’s how we felt when we were awaiting our results; if we want to attend a good school, we have to earn a good grade; therefore, we end up doing things we don’t want to.”
Mary, in spite of the obstacles, is relieved that she overcame them and accomplished her objectives. She entrusts the key to the door she first opened three decades ago to her daughter, Precious, and can only hold out hope that the future holds happiness.
From Pioneer to Last Cohort: A Mother-Daughter Duo in KCPE Exam