All institutions of higher learning will be required to seek an assessment and verification from the Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA) before admission of any student with foreign credentials.
Speaking on Tuesday, August 18, KNQA Director-General Dr. Juma Mukhwana stated that a number of students had been duped when it came to requirements for admission.
“We are asking universities that before they admit a student with a foreign qualification, even one that was obtained in the country, they must make sure KNQA has looked at it and we have given you the right equivalent so that you have documents certifying this,” he advised.
He explained that the Kenyan system had its set standards but lack of a streamlined verification process led to students being misguided.
“Students used to come with qualification papers from institutions in other countries and seek admission to a Kenyan University. Then they would meet someone who looks at it and thinks this looks like a C+, go to another they say its a B- and another and they say it looks like an A-.
“There was no central place for people with expertise and tools to convert the equivalence so universities were misleading students,†he stated.
Dr. Mukhwana disclosed that about 30,000 foreign students apply annually for admission into Kenyan institutions.
As it stands now, Kenyan universities have a set of requirements for international students.
The University of Nairobi, for example, recognizes the London GCE, ‘A’ level qualifications or their equivalents; International Baccalaureate, any final high school examination deemed equivalent to the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education as recognized by the Kenya National Examinations Council or any internationally recognized examination body.
The minimum University entrance requirements are set out in University of Nairobi Statute XXI. Subject requirements for each Faculty/School/Institute are set out under the appropriate section of the University calendar and details can be obtained from the Academic Registrar.
Any international student can also have their high school academic certificate equated by the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) which only equates certificates where a method (formula) for conversion exists and where the curriculum followed is known to KNEC.
Source: KENYAGIST.COM
