Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has announced that the university entry cut-off for the 2024 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) results will remain at a mean grade of C+. The decision ensures that more students will qualify for university admission this year.
According to CS Ogamba, the number of students eligible to join public universities will increase by 46,000, bringing the total to 246,291 compared to 200,000 in 2023. This represents a 3% growth, putting additional pressure on public universities already struggling with limited resources and space.
“This means universities will have more students because we are keeping the C+ as the cutoff grade,” Ogamba said during the announcement on Friday.
The C+ grade has been the standard for university admission for years, after being lowered from a B- for females and a B for males. Recent rumors suggesting the cutoff might be raised to a B- were dismissed by the Ministry of Education as “false and misleading.”
Ogamba reassured parents and students that the Ministry is working to address challenges in funding and infrastructure posed by the increased enrollment. He also confirmed that the government will continue using the student-based funding model, albeit with amendments based on court recommendations and expert input.
“The proposed changes will ensure the funding model is fair and effective while addressing concerns raised by stakeholders,” he noted.
Despite the challenges, the government has promised to provide adequate support to public universities to facilitate smooth learning for the growing student population.
By Nairobi