KUCCPS CEO reveals plans to remove C+ as university entry grade upon full transition to CBC
KUCCPS CEO reveals plans to remove C+ as university entry grade upon full transition to CBC
The Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) Chief Executive Officer Agnes Wahome now says that the long-standing Grade C+ cut-off for university admission is no longer sustainable.
Speaking on Tuesday, January 27, the KUCCPS boss said the university entry grade could soon be removed as the country’s education system fully transitions to the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC).
Wahome’s clarification followed concerns after a huge number of candidates who sat the 2025 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations failed to achieve the minimum university entry grade.
“This is a conversation that needs to start dying off as we get fully into CBC because we have overemphasised the grades and measuring using the number of people who get to university,” Wahome said.
He noted that Kenya has, for years, placed too much focus on the number of students attaining Grade C+ and above, but often overlooked alternative education pathways that also lead to successful careers.
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According to her, thousands of learners who do not immediately qualify for university admission can still take up certificates and diploma courses before eventually enrolling in universities.
“Remember, some don’t get to university but take another pathway in life and start with a certificate and proceed to a diploma and still end up in university, but nobody talks about them,” she added.
Wahome noted that the 8-4-4 education system, glorified Grade C+, adding that such emphasis will soon change as the country completes the move to Competency-Based Education (CBE).
The KUCCPS boss noted that under the CBE system, emphasis will be placed on hands-on skills, talents, and other practical works rather than examination scores alone.
“I think we have overglorified Grade C+ and above, and that is a conversation that will definitely change when we look at Competency Based Education,” Wahome reiterated.
However, it is worth noting that with the ongoing transition to the CBE system, the C+ university entry grade remains in effect until the government completes the shift, which is estimated to take two years.
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