The Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS), on Thursday February 23, clarified over minimum grades for admission into degree, diploma, certificate courses.
Through a statement, KUCCPS insisted that minimum entry grade for degree courses was C+ and above for students who sat for the 2022 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE).
KUCCPS informed parents and candidates that the minimum entry grade for Diploma courses was capped at C- (minus).
For craft courses, the placement body indicated that the minimum entry grade was D (plain), while for Artisan Courses it would be E.
KUCCPS was compelled to respond following concerns online over raising the minimum entry grade for degree, diploma and artisan courses.
The placement body dispelled reports indicating that C+, C- and D (plain) were the new entry grades for attaining a craft certificate and D- for artisan certificates.
"Please note that this communication was not issued by KUCCPS," the body responded to a social media user who had raised the concern.
At the same time, Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu revealed that the placement exercise was nearing roll out.
He also asked the education stakeholders to devise new means to ensure smooth transition.
"Placement of university students is supposed to start anytime from now. I am waiting for you to come up with proposals particularly on financing and the other terms of reference as given by President William Ruto," Machogu stated during the opening ceremony of the 1st Biennial Kenya Universities Funding Conference 2023.
From data from the Ministry of Education, an additional 27,569 candidates scored C+ and above in 2022 KCSE exams bringing the total to 173,345, compared to 145,776 recorded in 2021.
The number of candidates who scored grade A- and above stood at 7,553 compared to 7,313 recorded in the 2021 KCSE.
Education experts noted that the increase would spark a scramble for courses in various universities, including medicine, engineering, architecture, economics and information technology.
University were also projected to record a slight increase in admissions amidst financial and debt struggles.
