More than 50,000 students who scored university entry grades in the 2024 KCSE exams are yet to secure placements in higher education institutions. According to the Ministry of Education, while a large number of eligible students chose not to apply at all, others failed to get placed despite submitting applications.
Out of this number, over 42,000 students did not attempt to apply for placement through the KUCCPS portal. Meanwhile, 7,000 students who did apply were not matched with any university or college.
Interestingly, some students deliberately bypassed university in favour of TVET and medical training institutions. Dr Julius Ogambo, an official in the Ministry of Education, disclosed that 7,640 students with C+ and above opted for TVET colleges, while 6,750 chose KMTCs and primary teacher training colleges (TTCs).
Despite the traditionally high appeal of courses such as medicine and engineering, newer preferences are emerging. The diploma in primary teacher education, for instance, drew 20,786 applications, overshooting its capacity of 13,823. Only 11,636 students were finally admitted.
KMTCs witnessed a surge in demand as well, especially for nursing. Of the 52,725 applicants for nursing, only 25,034 were accepted. Other popular KMTC programs include Clinical Medicine, Community Health, and Emergency Medical Technician training.
The Ministry of Education has taken note of this shift, indicating that students are increasingly drawn to practical, hands-on professions with immediate employment prospects.
To ease the financial burden on families, the government has slashed university costs by up to 40%, thanks to an overhaul of the means-testing model. The updated formula now considers various indicators such as previous school fee expenditures, medical bills, family assets like land, and even informal financial support through the Hustler Fund.
Dr Ogambo emphasized that this move is aimed at ensuring that financial aid allocation mirrors the real economic challenges faced by students and their families.
Both the KUCCPS and Higher Education Fund portals remain open, giving unplaced students another chance to apply. The ministry is urging those who qualify but have not yet applied to do so promptly to avoid missing out.
