School leavers’ chances of joining public universities increased yesterday when admission slots were increased by 6,000.
The Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) placed 74,046 students into the 33 public universities, an increase from the 68,000 admitted last year.
The board also placed another 12,038 in colleges for diploma courses. Of those selected, there were 6,314 male students, representing 57.39 per cent. Apart from gender, the selection also considered affirmative action based on minorities and people with disabilities.
"Stakeholders will meet on Friday (today) to receive the report," said KUCCPS Chief Executive Officer John Muraguri.
Moi University has admitted the highest number at 5,834, followed by Kenyatta University with 5, 668, which is above its capacity of 5,598. The University of Nairobi will admit 5,275 students.
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According to figures from Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i, the number of candidates who attained the minimum university entry grade this year shot up to 165,766 from 149,717.
However, as 86,000 students were being absorbed into public colleges and universities, another 79,000 who met the minimum entry requirements were locked out.
However, KUCCPS did not pick government-sponsored students to join private universities as representatives of the sector had asked.
HBut sources have told The Standard that placement to private universities is being considered "at a higher level" and maybe launched soon.
Meanwhile, 470 students will join Garissa University College, which did not admit students last year after the deadly terror attack on April 2 last year.
The institution had 710 slots. It re-opened in January this year, nearly a year after it was closed following the terror attack that claimed 148 lives.
Following the attack, the Government boosted security around the college with plans to spend Sh230 million to erect a permanent perimeter fence equipped with CCTV cameras to detect any possible threats.
Two new universities, Kaimosi Friends University College and Tom Mboya University College, will also admit 896 and 193 students respectively, against their capacities of 905 and 200 students.
And in the over 57 middle-level colleges, a total of 12,038 have been selected for diploma courses.
This number is, however, way below the total declared capacity, which stands at 49,528 places, thus leaving 37,490 slots unfilled.
Among the colleges that have received students is Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC). In July last year, admission of about 4,300 students to the institution faced a huge hurdle after the placement agency and the college clashed over the selection process. KMTC had said it would not admit students selected by the placement agency.
