Only 18% of KCSE 2019 candidates placed for degree courses in universities as Gov’t-sponsored students

Education CS George Magoha has said only 18percent of candidates performed well to secure placement in universities as government-sponsored students.



Out of 689,007 who sat for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE 2019) exams, 125,463 attained mean grades of C+ and above, hence were eligible for placement.



“The remaining 563,544 (82percent) were eligible for placement to TVET programmes at Diploma, Craft Certificate and Artisan Certificate levels,” Prof. Magoha said in a statement.



According to the CS, universities have 145,129 slots for government sponsored students while TVET institutions have 276,163 open slots.



On Tuesday, Prof. Magoha revealed that 122,831 candidates have secured placement to degree courses in universities while 88,724 got placed in TVET institutions.



“Of those placed in TVET, 53,726 will be admitted to Diploma; 29,112 to Craft Certificate and 5,886 to Artisan Certificate courses,” he said.



The Education CS averred that the TVET number is expected to increase once the ministry receives returns from institutions where students may have registered directly.



He further stated that the Placement Service undertakes continuous placement of students to TVET institutions, which will further grow the enrollment.



In terms of gender distribution, 70,050 (57.03%) of those placed in degree courses are male while 52,781 (42.97%) are female.



In TVET, the male students are 39,695 (44.74%) while the female students are 49,029 (55.26%).



Prof. Magoha further noted that the Placement Service applied affirmative action criteria for applicants living with disabilities, those from marginalised regions and for gender.



“331 applicants with disabilities have been given their top priority courses for which they met the minimum admission requirements,” he said, adding that specific programmes cut-off points were lowered by two for applicants from marginalised regions, and 1,638 benefited.



A similar concession benefited 679 applicants under Gender Affirmative Action (624 female, 55 male).



The total number of applicants who have benefited from Affirmative Action are therefore 2,648.



Out of the 122,831 applicants placed to degree courses; 66,661 (54.27%) will join Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programmes.



The Education CS reiterated that STEM courses are critical for producing skilled workforce required for the attainment of the “Big Four” Agenda.



The remaining 56,170 (45.73%) have been placed to Arts and Humanities.



Of the applicants placed to STEM, 42,267 (63.41%) are male while 24,394 (36.59%) are female.



Some degree programmes in some universities did not attract applicants.



Universities and colleges have been asked to contact their respective students and give them joining instructions and fast-tract the start of their academic journey given that most universities have continued with online learning during this era of COVID-19 restrictions.