The Ministry of Education has released the 2024 Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS), which will see at least 890,654 candidates who sat for the 2023 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education placed in universities and colleges.
Releasing the report during the 2024 KUCCPS Stakeholders Forum held at the Edge Convention Centre in Nairobi, the Cabinet Secretary for Education Dr. Ezekiel Machogu said the performance data provided by the Kenya Examination Council has indicated that a total of 201,146 (22.5%) students attained a mean grade of C+ and above, hence meeting the minimum requirement for placement to Degree programmes.
“A total of 153,274 students have been placed to various Degree programmes in Universities, accounting for 76.2% of the 201,146 Kenyan students who qualified,” said Machogu.
He announced that the processing of placement applications considers applicants’ choices and their qualifications as well as available capacities, adding that applications for Open University of Kenya (OUK) programmes continue on the KUCCPS portal.
“I urge all Kenyans who wish to further their studies to take advantage of the flexibility provided by OUK and enrol for its globally competitive programmes,” he emphasised.
The CS said the cumulative approved capacities in selected institutions were 1,078,806, comprising 278,006 in Universities (Degree), 769,820 in TVET colleges and institutes, 13,808 in Teacher Training Colleges, and 17,172 in Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC).
Machogu said the remaining 694,086 (77.5%) who attained mean grades of between C and E, were eligible for placement to Diploma, Craft, and Artisan programmes in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions.
With the approval of higher education and training regulators, the Commission for University Education (CUE), and the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Authority, KUCCPS provided courses offered in 70 Universities, 35 Teacher Training Colleges, 88 Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) campuses, and 248 public TVET colleges.
He said a total of 75,718 applicants have secured places in TVET institutions, including 11,991 who qualified for degree programmes but opted for Diploma courses.
“With regard to the Kenya Medical Training College, 56,516 individuals applied and 19,653 were placed as per available slots,” said Machogu.
He added that a total of 10,263 applicants have secured admission places in the Teacher Training Colleges for Diploma programmes, which comprises of 734 who have been placed for the Diploma in Secondary Teacher Education Programme and 9,529 for the Diploma in Primary Teacher Education.
During the event, the CS also launched the KUCCPS 2023–2027 Strategic Plan and released the 2024–2025 Placement Cycle Report.
He encouraged the KUCCPS Board to remain committed to the Vision of equitable, fair, and efficient placement services and assured them of the Ministry’s support to achieve its mission of providing effective and efficient placement and career guidance services to students, for globally competitive human capital and sustainable socioeconomic development in Kenya.
Machogu said, “Over the years, thousands of students have looked upon KUCCPS as an equitable and fair provider of access to higher education and training,” and expressed confidence that the new Strategic Plan will continue to maintain the high standards that KUCCPS has set.
The 2024 student placement process has covered students who submitted applications for various programmes in universities and colleges.
Following the release of the 2023 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) Examination Results, the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) provided performance data for 895,232 candidates to KUCCPS, of which 890,654 were eligible for placement.
By Bernadette Khaduli
