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Read the passage below and then answer the questions that followQuestions abound concerning the sharp increase of low grades in the 2021 KCSE examination results....

      

Read the passage below and then answer the questions that follow
Questions abound concerning the sharp increase of low grades in the 2021 KCSE examination results. Of 46,151 candidates, 18,000 more than in the previous exam-scored a mean grade of ‘E’, the lowest possible. Of these, 26578 were males and 19,573 females. In the 2020 exam, 28,046 students scored ‘E’.
As usual, the sad turn of events is being normalized with many hiding in the consolation that grades do not matter much. Well, many who failed national tests or dropped out lead meaningful lives.
But this shouldn’t cloud our minds, so that we ignore the implication of failure rate: they mean a lot. The statistics need to be interpreted and acted upon, which can only be executed through thorough investigation. Whereas the victims (yes, they are victimized) of low grades have a recourse in technical and vocational education and training institutions, that should not make us complacent.
Reasons for failure are legion, and can only be unraveled if we seek them in the right places. Education officials ambushing a few schools considered to have performed dismally to breath fire down the administration’s neck cannot yield good results.
The Education ministry ought to move beyond reports from venture philanthropists and activists and reach out to the real sources of truth: Teachers, education experts and other relevant professionals. That will provide a more reliable assessment of these schools’ problems and the possible solutions.
Talking to some school heads, especially in county and sub-county schools, blame lands on certain constraints. The first is truancy, where learners attend schools sporadically for many reasons. Some will register for exams and disappear, only to reappear to write the tests. Others are constantly sent home for fees since government capitation arrives quite late. Instructively, most schools suffer teacher shortage; hence their boards of management are forced to hire them at the parent’s cost. Implicitly, the free education mantra does not count in such situations.
Another is the low entry marks, courtesy of the 100 percent transition policy. Some students can hardly construct a written sentence yet they are expected to go through secondary Education. Why not take them straight to vocational training? Don’t be hoodwinked by the few exceptional cases that fail KCPE but excel at KCSE. Apply the policy reasonably.
Teacher shortage, inadequate resources and socio-economic challenges most parents face make a case for failure. Or why do most top –notch schools perform well? Without prejudice, the top student was in a well-endowed private primary school before joining a public school. Run-down public schools force parents to seek private solutions to public problems-which will prove counterproductive.
I have heard that the competency-based curriculum (CBC) will help to reduce failure rates. Well, CBC with all its supposed goodness will simply mask the problems that dog our public education sector. Whether 8-4-4 or 2-6-6-3, we must ascertain that our children are receiving quality education.

(a) How do people tend to normalize poor performance in National examinations?

(b) From the information given in paragraph 3, what action should be taken concerning the low grades recorded in national examination?

(c) In your opinion, do good grades in examination matter in life? Explain your answer.

(d) What should not make us complacent?

(e) According to the passage, who are the real sources of truth?

(f) Make notes on the reasons school heads give for the poor performance in county and sub-county schools.

(g) What action does the writer suggest should be undertaken to learners with low entry grades those who can hardly construct a written sentence?

(h) Identify an instance of Irony in paragraph seven.

(i) But this shouldn’t cloud our minds (Insert a question Tag)

(j) Explain the meaning of the following words as used in the passage.
(i) Complacent
(ii) Sporadically

  

Answers


Francis
1. Comprehension
a) How do people tend to normalize poor performance in National examinations?
Many hide in the consolation that grades do not matter much. Besides, many who failed national tests or dropped out lead meaningful lives.

b) Fromtheinformationgiveninparagraph3,whatactionshouldbetakenconcerningthelow grades recorded in national examination?
The statistics need to be interpreted and acted upon, which can only be executed through investigation.

c) In your opinion, do good grades in examination matter in life? Explain your answer. Yes, most careers require good grades and consequently an attractive pay package.
No, hard work, determination and self-discipline can equally make one successful in life.
(Accept any other well explained answer. Morality should be upheld)

d) What should not make us complacent?
The fact that the victims of low grades have a recourse in technical, vocational education and other training institutions.

e) According to the passage, who are the real sources of truth?
Teachers, education experts and other relevant professionals are the real sources of truth.
f) Make notes on the reasons school heads give for the poor performance in county and sub- county schools.
1. Truancy- learners attend schools poradically
2. Poor fees payment hence they are frequently sent home for fees.
3. Teacher shortage
4. Low entry marks

g) What action does the writer suggest should be undertaken to learners with low entry grades- those who can hardly construct a written sentence?
The writer suggests that they should be taken to vocational training.

h) Identify an instance of Irony in paragraph seven.
It is ironical that some students can hardly construct a written sentence yet they are expected to go through secondary Education.

i) But this shouldn’t cloud our mind (Insert a question Tag)
But this shouldn’t cloud our mind, should it?

j) Explain the meaning of the following words as used in the passage.
i) Complacent-comfortable/satisfied
ii) Sporadically-occasionally/intermittently
francis1897 answered the question on November 22, 2022 at 07:48


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