Varsities placement board lowers cut-off points for students from marginalised counties

Kenya: Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) has lowered the overall cut-off points of degree programs for students from 14 marginalised counties.

KUCCPS Secretary John Muraguri said students from these counties face a lot of challenges as compared to students from other counties.

In a circular sent to all secondary schools principals, Muraguri said lack of enough facilities and personnel in schools in the 14 counties has informed the decision.

He said the counties were settled on as per the report developed by the Commission on Revenue Allocation.

"Applicants who are indigenous and have attended both primary and secondary schools in these counties will have the overall cut-off points for degree programs lowered by up to 5 points," read the circular, which further stated that the specific program cut-off points are lowered by up to 2 points, subject to not exceeding 10 per cent representation.

The counties are Turkana, Marsabit, Mandera, Wajir, Isiolo, Samburu, West Pokot, Tana River, Lamu, Taita Taveta, Kwale, Kilifi, Narok and Garissa.

He said this is part of the placement policy procedure on affirmative action.

"A student from a county such as Nairobi should not be admitted using same cut-off marks like a student in a county from Northern Kenya. This is one way of being fair to students from marginalised counties," he said.

He said the policy is in line with the placement service mandate of upholding equity and balanced access to university and college education for all Kenyans.