KUCCPS extends placement application deadline

The Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) has extended the application deadline for placement of students at universities and colleges.

Agnes Wahome, CEO of KUCCPS, stated in a statement on Friday that the deadline has been extended to February 26, 2024, in order to make sure that no student is left behind.

According to Wahome, the number of applicants selecting degree programmes is higher than those applying for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) courses.

Candidates who attained mean grades between C and E have been urged to take advantage of the available TVET opportunities.

"Particularly, applicants with grades D+ and E are still very low, and we are encouraging them to apply. They should walk into their nearest TVET institution for assistance," she said.

She noted that they have implemented measures to ensure that applicants are adequately supported and are also working with Huduma Centres and various universities and colleges to guide applicants.

"A list of the support centres is available on the KUCCPS website.  Therefore, I take this opportunity to assure all those seeking training opportunities through the KUCCPS portal that no one will be left behind," Wahome said.

The Placement Service opened its portal on February 7, 2024, for applications for placement of students at universities and colleges.

The application targets the 2023 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) candidates and Form Four leavers from other years to 2000.

However, only the 2023 candidates can apply for degree programmes at universities.

Those from all other years are eligible to apply for courses offered at the Open University of Kenya, TVET institutions, teacher training colleges, and the Kenya Medical Training College.

Out of 903,260 candidates who sat for the 2023 KCSE, only 201,133 candidates who scored a mean grade of C+ or above qualify for places in universities.

The remaining 694,231 are eligible for placement in TVET institutions, TTCs, and KMTC campuses, although students with a mean grade of up to A can also apply to the institutions.

Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu said all students who attained the minimum university entry grade will be absorbed by public universities under the new funding model.

He said KUCCPS should ensure the placement process is completed early enough to give successful and eligible applicants adequate time to apply for government loans and scholarships under the funding model.

The 2023 KCSE cohort will be the second to benefit from the new higher education funding model introduced last year with the aim of ensuring that needy students are funded adequately to pursue tertiary education.