The Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) reports that over 8,000 students have opted for diploma programs instead of pursuing university degree courses for which they qualified. Specifically, 8,130 candidates who attained a minimum grade of C+—rendering them eligible for degree programs—have chosen to apply for diploma courses.
The institutions selected by these students include the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC), the Kenya School of Law, and the Morendat Institute of Oil and Gas. Concurrently, there has been a sluggish response to university placements, with KUCCPS data indicating that only 104,514 out of 246,391 eligible candidates have submitted applications for degree programs. This suggests that more than half of the qualified candidates have yet to select university courses, with the application deadline approaching in two weeks.
Regarding the three preferred diploma institutions, the Kenya Medical Training College operates as a state corporation under the Ministry of Health, tasked with training professionals across various health disciplines to meet local, regional, and international demand. Conversely, the Morendat Institute of Oil and Gas (MIOG) specializes in training related to oil and gas sectors. This institution was established following a resolution made during the 3rd Heads of State Summit in Kigali, Rwanda, on October 28, 2013, where the leaders of Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and South Sudan agreed to create Centres of Excellence to enhance capacity for the Northern Corridor Integration Projects (NCIP).
The Kenya School of Law serves as the sole bar school in Kenya. After obtaining an undergraduate degree in law from an accredited university, students attend the Kenya School of Law to prepare for admission to the Kenyan Bar.
Notably, for the first time, the Kenya School of Law has partnered with KUCCPS to offer a Diploma in Law program, thereby enabling students who may have previously perceived a legal career as unattainable to enroll. Traditionally, entry into the legal profession in Kenya has been restricted to students with high academic performance, particularly those qualifying for a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) degree.
In response to the low application rates, KUCCPS plans to extend the application deadline from April 21 to April 30. Chief Executive Officer Agnes Mercy Wahome, in a statement to journalists, encouraged students to consider enrolling in underrepresented programs, such as agriculture, at the degree level.
“To date, we have received 104,514 degree applications. We are urging students to pursue agricultural courses at the degree level,” Dr. Wahome remarked.
Additionally, she noted that KUCCPS’s integration with the eCitizen platform has streamlined the application process, and ongoing sensitization campaigns are being conducted nationwide.