Gov't Allows Students with Grade E in KCSE to Study to PhD Level
Kenyan students who score grade E in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exam will now be allowed to join public universities to undertake undergraduate, postgraduate and even doctorate degrees.
Under new regulations gazetted by Education Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed, this category of students will be allowed to start from the lowest level before joining universities to pursue degree courses.
However, the process may take them more years than those who qualify for degrees automatically from high school. The time to be taken by one to reach the highest education level will depend on their willingness, ability and interest, the guidelines say.
The group will be required to begin with an artisan certificate taking six months and worth a minimum of 60 credit value, which will allow them to progress to the next level.
However, in the new guidelines, the Ministry failed to dictate at what level diploma holders will join universities, leaving the decision to individual institutions.
In the past, while some universities allowed diploma holders to join first year, others admitted them at the second year lever and third for others.
“The university will be in a position to assess a diploma student and determine at what level he or she can start his undergraduate studies but subject to our approval,” said Kenya National Qualifications Authority chairman Bonaventure Kerre.
In the new guidelines, one is required to have master’s degree to enroll for a doctorate program that will take three years with a minimum of 360 credits, while those taking postgraduate degree will take two years earning a minimum of 240 credits.
Those enrolling post graduate diplomas or certificates must posses a Bachelor’s degree and will take one year or 120 credits. Learners enrolling for degree programs will be required to have a C+ in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education examinations (KCSE) or its equivalent as determined by the authority or completion of a diploma.
To study a diploma course, one will be required to have a C- grade in KCSE or its equivalent as determined by the authority or certificate. The course will take two years with 240 credits.
Those enrolling for a craft certificate course must have a D (plain) in KCSE and will complete the course in one year.
Comments (12)
It's time to have education programme and certificates provided in local languages. Amina, it's time to promote who we are by teaching, recognizing, promoting and funding local languages in our universities. With all the corruption, it's time to invest some of that money to who we are. God help Kenya!!
I support you 100%. Why do we have to learn in a foreign language? It's time to promote our vernaculars and our national language Kiswahili. Other than in Africa, I don't think there is any other country in the developed world that make there people study higher education in a language other than their own.
Although this might seem like a unique idea, we might end up limiting our degrees to our own tribes. Further more, who will write the books in our mother tongues? Even if we could translate books, what about intellectual property act and the language limitations?
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I have a 7 yr old Son who Speaks Fluent ENGLISH (and he gets Better and Better everyday). BUT: About a Week ago I told him that "Dad and Him will be Vernacular; Ma and him will be Swahili; and School, Public, and Friends will be English. Case closed.
Amina, may be we should all get E's and go for PHD. Why work hard ? The current education system in Kenya has been reduced to nothing. We are at the end of the rope. It's time to try our own and not imported education system. Let's try it in our languages. With this corruption, God help Kenya!!!
I agree that education system should strive for excellence. My own observation is that our system has been excluding people who got grades that we consider poor. Maybe we should have some forms of incentives for top performance, but we must open avenues for all Kenyans to be able to access university education as the current practice is discriminative
@Anonymous I know many Kenyans who didn’t finish high school in Kenya n many who got E/D n when immigrated to USA they did GED started in techs n today they r nurses,chemistry teachers,accountants and have masters degree so if they never immigrated to USA where chances r given to everyone wangepotelea mbali so what Amina is doing is very good.Ngombe wote nikazima wawe Sawa bybthe end of the day.
There are people who do not do well following traditional paths, but when given a 2nd chance through alternate career paths, they excel. So I am agreeing with you and see no issue with opening up alternative avenues for those that didn’t make the grade in traditional academics.
Good idea Hon Amina.
That is the way to go.
what about those who don't make even E,does it mean that we should all pass through the system?
its a good idea anyway