The Ministry of Education has firmly denied allegations of plans to raise university entry requirements for candidates who sat for the 2024 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams. Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba issued a statement on Monday refuting claims that the government intends to adjust the minimum entry grade from C+ to B-.
Ogamba described the allegations as baseless and misleading, urging Kenyans—particularly parents and students—to disregard such information. His response follows heightened public concern stemming from a controversial article that suggested the ministry was planning to implement significant changes to the university admission process ahead of the release of the KCSE results.
The flagged article alleged that the Ministry of Education had announced the proposed grade change during a press briefing, citing a need to enhance the quality of graduates in Kenya’s increasingly competitive job market. “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. The claims prompted an uproar among education stakeholders, parents, and students, who feared potential disruptions to university admissions.
In his clarification, CS Ogamba reassured the public that the ministry has no intentions of altering university entry grades for the 2024 candidates. He emphasized that such false reports not only cause unnecessary anxiety but also undermine public trust in the government’s education policies. “Kenyans are advised to verify information from credible sources before reacting to unsubstantiated claims,” Ogamba said.
The denial comes as the marking of the 2024 KCSE examinations approaches completion. The marking exercise, which began on November 27 following the conclusion of the exams on November 22, has been ongoing for four weeks. Examiners are expected to finalize the process before the commencement of the 2025 school calendar.
CS Ogamba recently announced that the results for the 2024 KCSE would be released in January 2025 instead of the traditional December timeline. He attributed the delay to the unprecedented number of candidates who registered for the exams and the ministry’s extensive efforts to curb cheating.
This year, 965,501 candidates sat for the KCSE, marking the highest number in the history of national examinations in Kenya. The Ministry of Education has prioritized ensuring the credibility of the results, deploying rigorous scrutiny to identify and address any irregularities. “The increased number of candidates has presented logistical challenges, but we are committed to maintaining the integrity of the examination process,” Ogamba stated.
Education stakeholders have lauded the ministry’s efforts to maintain transparency during the examination period while urging the government to improve communication channels to counter misinformation. Parents and teachers have also called on the ministry to clarify its position on key policies to prevent the spread of rumors that create unnecessary panic among students.
In conclusion, the Ministry of Education has reassured the public of its commitment to providing quality education and safeguarding the future of learners. As the release of the 2024 KCSE results nears, the ministry continues to prioritize transparency and integrity in all its processes.
