New rules for Kenya varsity entry

The University of Nairobi. In fresh guidelines being prepared by the Commission for Higher Education, the C+ minimum requirement will be scrapped and other competencies considered in determining who joins universities. Photo/REUTERS

Form Four students may no longer be required to score the traditional mean grade C+ in their final exams to join public universities.

In fresh guidelines being prepared by the Commission for Higher Education, the C+ minimum requirement will be scrapped and instead individual skills, talents and other competencies considered in determining who joins universities.

This move is meant to ensure that Kenya’s human resource is not just geared towards academic excellence but that other key elements of holistic education are also put in perspective.

Commission for Higher Education boss Everret Standa said on Monday that this was in response to the global trend. “University education should be a complete experience where the students develop in all spheres of their lives.”

Prof Standa said this as it emerged that hundreds of university lecturers will lose their jobs following new qualification rules.

The lowest qualified lecturer will be a tutorial fellow holding a Masters degree, with three years of experience and already registered to pursue a doctorate (PhD) degree in the relevant field. The guidelines are meant for both the public and private universities.

Enhance quality

“The position in public universities in Kenya regarding this question seems to be ambivalent. Some teachers with Masters qualifications are even allowed to teach Masters students!” said Prof Bethwell Ogot, the chancellor at Moi University.

But even as lecturers are poised to lose jobs, the highest number of students that a class should have has been set at 18 per lecturer.

Meanwhile, about 20,000 students will be admitted to public universities following a move by Vice Chancellors to lower entry points, it was announced on Monday.

But the new measure will still leave out 52,500 students, qualified with the minimum C+ mean grade, from joining universities.

The Joint Admissions Board (JAB) – in charge of selections – lowered the entry point from 66 points to 65 points as accurately estimated by the Nation on Monday.

But women and students from arid areas be cushioned under an affirmative action policy that would allow them to join the universities at a point or so less.