The Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) has hinted at a possible end to the long-standing Grade C+ minimum requirement for university admission, as the country moves fully into the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
Speaking earlier today during the 1st National Career Conference and Exhibition, KUCCPS Chief Executive Officer Agnes Wahome said Kenya’s heavy reliance on exam grades has sidelined other education pathways, noting that the new system will place greater emphasis on practical skills and competencies.
Wahome argued that continued reliance on the Grade C+ benchmark is unsustainable, especially after many candidates who sat the 2025 KCSE examinations failed to meet the threshold.
“Now, this is a conversation that should start fading away as we move fully into CBC, because we have over-emphasised grades and used them as the main measure of success, especially in terms of who gets into university,” she said.
ALSO READ:
Teachers’ Union raises alarm over low Grade 10 admissions in South Rift
Wahome explained that for years, Kenya has glorified the number of students qualifying for university while overlooking alternative education routes. She pointed out that learners who begin with certificates and diplomas often progress to university, yet their journeys are rarely acknowledged.
The KUCCPS boss added that the outgoing 8-4-4 system entrenched Grade C+ as the ultimate benchmark of success, a culture she said will change under Competency-Based Education (CBE). “We have over-glorified Grade C+ and above, and that conversation will definitely change when we fully embrace Competency-Based Education,” she noted.
Despite the ongoing transition, Wahome clarified that the Grade C+ requirement remains in effect until the government completes the shift, a process expected to take about two years.
By Masaki Enock
You can also follow our social media pages on Twitter: Education News KE and Facebook: Education News Newspaper for timely updates.
>>> Click here to stay up-to-date with trending regional stories
>>> Click here to read more informed opinions on the country’s education landscape
