KCSE Candidates to Pick Varsity & TVET Courses After Exams
Beginning next year, candidates taking the KCSE exams will experience a significant change in the way they select their preferred universities and colleges. The Ministry of Education has decided to prohibit candidates from applying for university places while they are still in school, a practice that has been in place.
Instead, students will have to wait until they have completed their KCSE exams to make their selections, aligning with a new funding formula for higher education institutions.
According to Basic Education PS Bellio Kipsang, “Following the introduction of a new funding model, applicants will make choices based on cost per program as published in the KUCCPS online application system.” This decision, as outlined in a circular dated October 27, is driven by the change in the funding formula and will affect the more than four million students currently in secondary school under the 8-4-4 education system.
KCSE Candidates to Pick Varsity & TVET Courses After Exams
The circular, which is addressed to County Directors of Education and copied to Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu and Regional Directors of Education, also states that “Centre/School application will, therefore, not be available going forward.” The application process, which used to be conducted through the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) portal, will commence after the release of KCSE Examination results and declaration of programs, capacities, and program costs by training institutions.
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Kipsang emphasized the importance of KUCCPS continuing to provide career guidance to students while they are still in school and supporting subject selection to align with their chosen careers. The circular also mentions that “Capacity building for Career Guidance Teachers will also be enhanced to empower them to guide students on application for placement.”
The previous application process allowed students to choose from 18 possible areas of study, including six options for degree courses, four for diploma programs, a similar number for craft certificate options, and four options for artisan certificate courses. For degree programs, candidates were required to list their preferred four courses in order of priority, with the first choice having three slots for the same program in three different universities.
