Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu while officiating the official unveiling of the placement of 2022 KCSE candidates into universities and colleges confirmed that institutions have enough capacity to admit all students who will apply through the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) portal.
The CS announced that all 173,127 candidates who attained the minimum university entry grade of C+ qualify to be placed for degree programmes. Whereas those who scored C plain and below will be absorbed in TVET institutions countrywide.
In this new system, KUCCPS is expected to place all qualified candidates to different programmes in universities, colleges, national polytechnics and TVETs based on merit and choice.
Likewise, the education CS stated that the placement service will publish the total fees details of all programmes in the different institutions.
CS Machogu had earlier on directed KUCCPS to open the portal to allow all 2022 KCSE candidates to start applying for courses they wish to study.
“KUCCPS has received programmes and capacities from 39 public universities, 33 private universities, three secondary teachers training colleges and 205 public TVET colleges for the 2023/2024 placement cycle,” Machogu said.
Nonetheless, KUCCPS, through their CEO Mercy Wahome, had directed all vice chancellors and principals of university constituent colleges to declare the cost of their academic programmes. These figures would not include the cost of accommodation and meals.
“This will guide students in making choices based on the income levels of their households, programme of study and institution that they wish to join,” Machogu said.
The ministry of Education directed the placement agency to partner with Huduma Kenya Secretariat to ensure students can apply for their courses from all the 52 Huduma Centers around the country.
As such KUCCPS is expected to begin a robust communication and sensitization exercise to ensure all students have details of the application process.
Also Read: CS Machogu to Unveil KUCCPS Placement Portal for the Year 2023
“I expect the exercise to be complete by August 2023 to allow students to report to their respective institutions in September,” Machogu said.
CS Machogu further echoed that students who will select courses in public universities will be eligible to access both the government scholarships and loans while those who select private universities will be eligible to get government loans only.
“The whole idea is premised on the fact that each student should be treated based on the level of their need and that no deserving student should be denied an opportunity to acquire higher education and training in an institution of their choice,” the CS said.