KCSE students given April 1 deadline to pick courses

Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Services (KUCCPS) CEO Dr Agnes Mercy Wahome, October 2021. [Kelvin Karani, Standard]

Some 831,026 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) 2021 candidates have until April 1 to apply for placement in universities and colleges under government sponsorship.

The Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) opened the application window yesterday.

This comes two weeks to the Form Four national examination which starts on March14 and ends on April 1.

“This is to notify school principals that the portal is now open for the 2021 application. Submit KCSE candidates’ course choices by April 1, 2022," reads a notice by KUCCPS.

Each student will pay Sh500 for application fees.

KUCCPS recently reviewed the application criteria that will see cut-off points for joining university pegged on available accommodation and government capitation.

Overall, students have 18 choices open to them when making applications. Out of these, are six options for degree courses, four for diploma programmes, and a similar number for craft certificate options. Another four options are available for artisan certificate courses.

For degrees, candidates are expected to list their preferred four courses in the order of priority. Choice number one has three slots for the same programme (in three different universities).

The two-month application window is a wake-up call to teachers and parents amid reports that some teachers failed to guide the students through the course selection process before exams over fears that some could not meet the required grades.

Teachers are expected to assist candidates in picking the courses so as to avoid making the common mistake of selecting high-ranking and competitive courses in top universities.

However, candidates will have a chance to do the first and second course revision after KCSE results are released.

The second revision will only be applicable to candidates who do not merit any of their preferred choices.

For students who fail to secure placement, they will not pay for the second revision. However, the application fee paid at first revision will be applicable during the second revision.

According to KUCCPs, students applying for placement for the first time in the second course revision window, will pay Sh1,500

Last week KUCCPS asked 95,757 students who sat KCSE between 2020 and 2021 and qualified for placement, but haven’t enrolled, to re-apply for courses.

KUCCPS Chief Executive Officer Agnes Mercy Wahome said those targeted are applicants for diploma, certificate and artisan courses.

Wahome said the government will sponsor all the students who will be successfully placed, including practising professionals who wish to upgrade their skills by taking technical courses.