Last-minute rush: Over 100,000 KCSE candidates yet to apply for university placement
According to the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS), 104,514 of the 246,391 eligible candidates have applied for placement in degree programmes.
Over 100,000 candidates who sat for the 2024 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams and achieved a C+ grade or higher have yet to apply for university placement, just two weeks before the April 30 deadline.
According to the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS), 104,514 of the 246,391 eligible candidates have applied for placement in degree programmes.
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The KUCCPS extended the application window to allow more students to apply, after the initial deadline of April 21 was deemed insufficient.
“We’ve received 104,514 degree applicants so far, and we encourage students to consider agricultural courses at the university level,” said Dr Agnes Mercy Wahome, CEO of KUCCPS, told the Daily Nation.
“The response has been positive, and the system has been running smoothly thanks to improvements in our IT infrastructure.”
The CEO is reported to have further mentioned that KUCCPS staff, including those on temporary contracts, are conducting nationwide sensitisation campaigns to boost awareness and applications.
The placement body extended the deadline because this year’s intake has seen more applicants than in previous years.
Additionally, 8,130 candidates eligible for degree programmes have opted for diploma courses in technical and vocational education and training (TVET), Kenya Medical Training College, Kenya School of Law, and Morendat School of Oil and Gas.
The KUCCPS platform, which integrates with eCitizen, helps match candidates to degree or TVET programs based on their performance. This year, like in past years, it is expected that around 15 per cent of qualified candidates will pursue education abroad, opting for private universities or other institutions.
While universities have declared capacity for approximately 300,000 students, enough to accommodate all those eligible, the Commission for University Education (CUE) limits the number of students each university can admit based on available resources.
However, challenges loom for the incoming students.
A High Court ruling in December annulled the government’s funding model for universities, leaving the funding situation uncertain for freshmen and those in the second and third years of study.
KUCCPS appealed the ruling, but its efforts to suspend the decision and proceed with the placement were unsuccessful.
As the deadline approaches, KUCCPS continues to urge students to apply for university placements, highlighting the importance of securing spots in academic programmes before the final day.
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