Nyeri: Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has announced the opening of the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) portal for the 2024 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education graduates who scored a mean grade of C+ and above to apply for degree programs. The portal will remain open until 21 April, ready to receive applications from 246,391 qualified students, aiming to fill 305,223 vacancies in both public and private universities.
According to Kenya News Agency, Ogamba highlighted that 245,495 slots are available in public universities, while 59,728 slots are in private universities. The portal was initially opened for applications to Technical Vocational Education and Training institutions, Teacher Training Colleges, and Kenya Medical Training College. It is now open for university students for the next 30 days, facilitating admissions to various programs across public and private universities.
The government, Ogamba stated, is committed to supporting higher education by providing loans and scholarships. Students joining public universities in September will benefit from both student loans and government scholarships, whereas those opting for private universities will receive student loans only. Concerning the review of the university funding model, the committee appointed by President William Ruto has already presented its recommendations, focusing on means testing instruments to ensure financial capacity alignment.
The National Committee also assessed the cost of university programs to align them with similar programs in East Africa. The ministry plans to publicize the modified funding model to current and incoming students within the next 14 days, following directives from the court of appeal. The CS emphasized balancing legal issues with pragmatic solutions to ensure no student is disadvantaged due to funding model challenges.
Ogamba made these remarks during the fifth graduation ceremony of Nyeri National Polytechnic, where 2,515 graduates received certificates and diplomas. He reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to expanding access to quality TVET education, emphasizing hands-on skills for the job market. Highlighting the importance of TVET, he encouraged graduates to become job creators and innovators. The government is also implementing the Competency-Based Education and Training, strengthening the Dual Training Model, and enhancing the Recognition of Prior Learning program to certify skills acquired outside formal education.