KCSE Candidates Who Scored E to Join Colleges

Education CS Magoha speaking to learners of Chavakali High School, Vihiga County on March 6, 2021.
Education CS Magoha speaking to learners of Chavakali High School, Vihiga County on March 6, 2021.
Twitter

The Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) candidates who scored an aggregate of Grade E will now be able to pursue higher education to Doctorate levels, thanks to a new directive by the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS).

Speaking at the press conference on Monday, November 1, KUCCPS Chief Executive Officer, Agnes Wahome, noted that the students stood a chance to pursue their degrees all the way to the doctorate level.

In the past decades, many of the students who scored the exam's lowest grades were deemed as failures and could not be placed into any post-secondary education institution.

Only those who scored D+ and above were enrolled to undertake artisan courses in the institution.

File image of KCSE students preparing for an exam
File image of KCSE students preparing for an exam
File

"Previously students who scored C and below were considered as failures but there is no failure. For those we have placed, the minimum was a C- (minus) for Diploma and D+ (Plus) for certificate courses."

Degree courses in universities require a minimum of C+ as mean grade.

"We hope we can take artisan courses as you develop your programs so that even those who get an E can have an opportunity to study," she stated.

The KUCCPS CEO also encouraged the E students to work hard, moreso in English and science courses, in order to secure their employment in the future.

"You are the first students to be placed by KUCCPS, you are our ambassadors. You can go into our system, identify a course and within two or three months, (get) placed in Mombasa whether you come from Kakamega, Kisumu or Machakos."

"We want equity to ensure that the country benefits. There are opportunities that Kenyans can take advantage of and move outside of their local areas. We want you to train for international opportunities but you must learn to speak proper English, it's not optional," she added.

Thousands of students score a mean grade of E every year and many are often forced to repeat Form Four in an attempt to upend their scores.

In 2020 alone, over 28,000 students scored E, most of whom were from sub-county schools. The poor performance cut across public (over 12,000) and private schools (over 8,000).

Most of the students are then forced to resort to menial jobs for a living or turn to crime and other related vices.

Graduands attend a graduation ceremony organised by a Kenyan University.
Graduands attend a graduation ceremony organised by a Kenyan University.
Photo