The Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) is considering a radical policy shift that could see the abolition of the C+ minimum grade for university entry, citing the changing landscape of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).

KUCCPS Chief Executive Officer Agnes Wahome dropped the bombshell proposal, arguing that the current cutoff is "unsustainable" and does not reflect the holistic capabilities of learners under the new education system.

Rethinking Merit

Wahome pointed out that the obsession with the C+ grade has created a bottleneck, leaving thousands of capable students with nowhere to go. With the 2025 KCSE results showing a high failure rate in attaining the cutoff, the agency is under pressure to innovate.

• The CBC Factor: The new curriculum emphasizes pathways and skills over rote memorization. "We cannot use an old yardstick for a new system," Wahome argued. The proposal suggests a cluster-based entry system where specific subject strengths matter more than the aggregate grade.
• University Sustainability: Public universities, already cash-strapped, are facing dwindling admission numbers. Lowering or removing the rigid C+ barrier could open doors for more self-sponsored students, injecting much-needed revenue into the higher education sector.

Public Reaction

The proposal has sparked a fierce debate. Education stakeholders worry about the dilution of quality, while parents of students who missed the cutoff by a point welcome the move as a second chance. As the Ministry of Education reviews the framework, the days of the C+ tyranny may be numbered, paving the way for a more inclusive, albeit controversial, university admission policy.