The Ministry of Education has dismissed claims of plans to raise the minimum university entry grade for the 2024 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) candidates from a C+ to a B-.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, in a statement on Monday, refuted the allegations, labeling them as false and misleading. He urged parents, students, and the general public to disregard the rumors, which he noted had caused unnecessary anxiety.
“The allegations circulating about changes in university entry requirements are completely baseless. I urge Kenyans not to fall for such misinformation,” Ogamba clarified.
The statement came in response to concerns sparked by a controversial article that alleged the ministry was considering the grade hike to ensure the quality of graduates in a competitive job market. The flagged post falsely claimed that the CS had announced the changes during a press briefing.
“This announcement marks a departure from the traditional university entry grade of C+, which has been the standard for years,” read part of the article, which the Ministry has since debunked.
Meanwhile, marking for the 2024 KCSE examinations is nearing completion, with the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) examiners expected to conclude the process ahead of the 2025 school calendar. The exams, taken by a record 965,501 candidates, were completed on November 22, with marking commencing on November 27.
Ogamba also announced last week that KCSE results will be released in January 2025 instead of December 2024 due to delays caused by the large number of candidates and stringent scrutiny to curb cheating.
“This year’s exams are unprecedented in scale. We are ensuring accuracy and fairness in the results,” a KNEC official stated.
The Ministry’s clarification provides relief to many students and parents, dispelling concerns over potential changes in university entry requirements.
By Kenyans