The ongoing development in Kenya will transform its entire system of higher education because the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) announced that universities will end their requirement of Grade C+ as the minimum admission standard after the nation finishes its shift to the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) system, which has started an intense discussion among teachers and students and government officials.
KUCCPS Chief Executive Officer Agnes Wahome informed lawmakers during a briefing on January 27 2026 that the C+ entry standard which became mandatory after the 2016 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) will soon be eliminated.
Wahome explained that throughout Kenya’s history, the education system has imposed one grade as the primary indicator of student success, which has created a gap that prevents schools from recognizing different academic paths and all student abilities.
Wahome said that the current discussion should start to fade away because CBC implementation will become our main focus. Wahome explained that competency-based assessment will measure practical skills and talents and operational capabilities. She predicted that university admission processes will undergo a major transformation with numerical cut-offs becoming less critical for assessing student admission eligibility.
Wahome’s comments emerged after observers raised concerns about student performance during the 2025 KCSE examination because many candidates failed to achieve the minimum C+ standard, which created demand for KUCCPS to change its placement procedures according to current educational trends. Her position demonstrates that educational institutions now consider certificates, diplomas, and alternative learning paths as valid qualifications for entry into degree programs.
The Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba announced the official policy changes, but he later explained that no changes had been implemented. Ogamba urged the public to disregard suggestions that the current C+ standard has been altered, reaffirming that the Grade C+ cut-off remains in force while the transition to CBC continues — a process expected to last up to two more years.
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