More than 50,000 Kenyan students who qualified for university admission after the 2024 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams have not applied for placement through the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS), according to the Ministry of Education’s latest report.
The primary reasons cited include the controversial university funding model and financial constraints faced by students from poor backgrounds.
Instead, many have opted for alternative pathways such as Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC), Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions, or Teacher Training Colleges (TTCs), while others have not applied at all, raising alarms about access to higher education in Kenya.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba revealed that of the 244,563 candidates who scored C+ and above, qualifying for degree programmes, only 201,695 applied through KUCCPS, leaving over 42,000 unplaced.
An additional 7,000 applicants were not successfully placed, with 7,640 choosing TVET courses and 6,750 opting for KMTC or TTCs, reflecting a growing preference for practical, skills-based training.
The new university funding model, criticised for its Means Testing Instrument (MTI) that categorises students into five bands based on family income, has been deemed unhelpful by many, particularly those from marginalised communities.
Students complain of being barred from exams due to unpaid fees, with the model’s loans accruing high interest, deterring low-income families.
The High Court’s November 2024 ruling declared the funding model unconstitutional, as students from poor backgrounds struggle to meet financial obligations despite increased university costs by 15-40%.
KUCCPS data shows 986,137 placement slots were available, including 300,000 for degree programs, yet the low uptake underscores systemic barriers.
Popular KMTC courses like nursing and clinical medicine saw 52,725 applications against 34,048 slots, locking out 18,677 students due to capacity constraints.
Citizens went abuzz with sentiments praising the shift toward TVETs and TTCs for their marketable skills, while others highlight the funding model’s failure to support marginalised students.
KUCCPS has urged remaining candidates to apply for the Open University of Kenya or KMTC’s September intake, with the Higher Education Fund (HEF) portal open for scholarships and loans.
As Kenya grapples with equitable education access, this gap in university placement signals a need for urgent funding reforms.
