Why Form Four leavers should prepare to choose course   

Dear Form Four Leavers, the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) is warming up to open the portal: to allow the KCSE Class of 2025 to navigate it and apply for shedload of degree, diploma and certificate (craft and artisan) courses. The good guide titled KUCCPS School/Centre Application for Degree and TVET Programmes: Principals’ Application Guide spells out how to apply for courses in colleges and universities.

In retrospect, it is instructive to note. That in 2023, KUCCPS doled out a circular to all Heads of Institutions (HoIs) to mainly mark the end of application of courses in schools. Meaning, as a career educator, as I sit to weave these words, I am acutely aware: Form Fours are allowed to apply for oodles of courses available on the KUCCPS portal only after release of KCSE results. Then, KUCCPS is fond of opening the portal for a specific cohort or coterie of candidates. But initially, there was a directive from KUCCPS for HoIs to create accounts, and apply for students’ placement into universities and colleges.

Ostensibly, Form Four leavers can access information on various courses in public and private universities private universities, KMTCs, secondary teacher-training colleges and public TVETs. The vast array of programmes range from degree, diploma and certificate (craft and artisan) courses. Largely, students secure placements based on choice and performance in KCSE exam. Meaning, merit and KCSE outcome play a pivotal role in the placement arrangement. Haply, affirmative action also takes the centre stage in the placement process.

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Delving deeper, students have 18 choices: 6-degree options (1a, 1b, 1c, 2, 3 and 4), 4 diploma options (1, 2, 3 and 4), 4 craft certificate options (1, 2, 3 and 4) and 4 artisan certificate options (1, 2, 3 and 4). Advisedly, they should apply only for programmes they will be comfortable to pursue in case they access success in the placement process. In case a student will not be applying, they should not enter anything in the fields. In lieu, they should leave the choice cells blank, and only fill the contact details. By the same token, failure to fill the portal means that a student is either not interested to join tertiary institution or is planning to study outside the country.

Actually, pertaining degree courses, choices 1a to 1c, should be the same programme in different universities. For example: Medicine at the University of Nairobi, Maseno University and Kabianga University. Conversely, in cases where the programme only exists in one or two institutions, they should enter only the one available, and skip the other.

Moreover, when the KUCCPS opens its portal for application of degree, diploma and certificate (craft and artisan) programmes, students should pay Ksh 1,500 through the eCitizen. Then, there is first and second revision of courses. Again, while placing students into the programmes, KUCCPS considers: Merit, academic performance, students’ performance and affirmative action. While choosing courses in universities and colleges, students should consider a raft factors such as cluster requirements, accreditation details, fees, accommodation, location, ranking, marketability, work study programmes, scholarship opportunities, et cetera.

Finally, on matters cluster points, students should know in their nous, there are 4 key subjects required for a particular course. For example, the subject clusters for Medicine and Surgery include: Biology, Chemistry, English or Kiswahili, and Mathematics or Physics.

Universities have different cluster requirements for courses. It is higher in city-based campuses due to high demand for admission. Meaning, more students express intense interest to study in universities based in town. Ipso facto, students do not matriculate into universities simply because they have met the cut-off point — C+ (plus) of 46 points. Too true, KUCCPS will place them in courses of choice, only after meeting cluster requirements.

By Victor Ochieng’

Victor Ochieng’ is a Career Educator. He guides students on how to make informed career choices. vochieng.90@gmail.com. 0704420232