Thousands of students who achieved an average grade of E in the Kenya Certificate Secondary Education (KCSE) exams now have hope since they can apply for central placement to institutions to pursue artisan courses.
Secondary school graduates who get the required grade but are unable to pursue post-secondary education will now be placed through the Kenya Colleges and Universities Placement Service (KUCCPS), which is best renowned for placing students in universities and other middle-level colleges.
Those who develop their expertise and study all the way to PhD level despite having had an E mean grade have a framework in place.
In the previous year (2020) KCSE, 28,046 students got an E, the lowest possible score. Boys made up 15,225 of the total, while girls made up 12,821. Surprisingly, 141 students from national schools achieved an E, compared to only 85 candidates from extra-county schools.
Sub-county schools had the most candidates with Grade E (18,289), although private schools also had a large number (8,080).
According to KNEC data, the number of candidates obtaining an E has been declining over the last five years, peaking in 2017 with 35,536 candidates obtaining the grade.
For the first time, the agency has placed 167 students at the Bandari Maritime Academy in Mombasa to pursue maritime courses in order to prepare more Kenyan experts for the blue economy sector.
“students who had a C or lower in the recent past were deemed failures, but there is no such thing as failure now. The minimum grade for those we placed was a C- (minus) for diploma courses and a D+ (plus) for certificate courses. We hope that when you improve your programs, you will include artisan courses so that even people who receive an E can study,” stated KUCCPS CEO Dr. Agnes Wahome.
She stated that there is a huge demand for the courses and that they will be competitive. She did, however, encourage the learners to put in extra effort in English and science. The college and the placement service have teamed up to discover young Kenyans who can be trained in the marine sector.
“Since you are the first students placed by KUCCPS,you will be our ambassadors. You may walk into our system, choose a degree, and be placed in Mombasa in two or three months, whether you’re from Kakamega, Kisumu, or Machakos,” Dr Wahome said on Friday.
She emphasized that KUCCPS will maintain regional balance, with maritime courses benefiting students from all across the nation.
“To ensure that the country benefits, we want equity. Kenyans might take advantage of chances and relocate outside of their local areas.” The KUCCPS director stated, “We want you to train for worldwide prospects, but you must acquire proper English; it is not optional.” She added.
She expressed her delight that more women are enrolling in marine courses previously thought to be reserved for men.
Betty Makena, Kenya’s first female port inspector, who works for the International Transport Federation in Mombasa, asked KUCCPS to collaborate with maritime stakeholders to increase student enrollment. She, too, advised the students to enhance their English language skills.
” We take English very seriously as maritime students,” Ms Makena remarked.
Francis Muraya, the academy’s acting director, stated that the academy hopes to include sea time as a component of training.
“You will be able to find work fast when you finish school because you will have acquired the necessary skills
