As of February 25, 2024, a total of 121,391 candidates who scored C+ and above in the 2023 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination had applied for course placements through the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS).
This number accounted for 60.8 per cent of the 199,695 students who scored a mean grade of C+ and above, prompting the Ministry of Education to extend the deadline to March 4, 2024, to allow the remaining applicants to submit their choices.
The initial application deadline was set for February 22, but was later pushed to February 26 following numerous complaints of system glitches that could have necessitated a further extension.
In a statement by KUCCPS, Chief Executive Officer Mercy Wahome confirmed delays in processing applicants’ payments, assuring applicants that efforts were ongoing to stabilize the system and advised against making double payments since the government services have been migrated to the eCitizen platform.
KUCCPS acknowledged that the application was longer than before with the Cabinet Secretary for Education, Ezekiel Machogu, in a separate statement indicating that the ministry had assembled a technical team to fast-track the application transactions.
In exclusive interviews with The Campus Review, students around Chuka, Ndagani and Mitheru towns displayed their disappointment and frustrations after they were unable to access the application system for days.
They claimed that the unresponsive portal and system glitches had resulted to them camping at cyber cafes for long hours without any hope of assistance.
Cynthia Makena, one of the applicants from Ndagani explained that she at one point lost hope in the process after experiencing delays with the portal, with the risk of losing a spot in a nursing course at Chuka University which she said was her dream university.
"The government seems was not prepared to handle this huge load of applications and a new payment system. I thank God that the system was restored on Saturday, allowing me to apply after wasting a lot of time and money", she said.
Michael Kibiwot a cyber cafe operator around Ndagani market described the situation as disheartening for the youth as they camped around his business awaiting restoration of the portal.
Michael said he found out that the issue was a national problem after he received numerous calls from individuals in other places who wanted assistance accessing the portal.
"The situation soon improved and I was able to serve all those who were in the queue ", said Kibiwot.
Jacob Momanyi, Janet Maina and Sylvanus Mathayo, all cyber attendants at Slaughter, Lowlands and Mitheru respectively reported the same delays.
Applicants whose payments are experiencing unusual delays have been encouraged by the Ministry of Education to use the USSD code *222# to trigger their validation or confirm their payments.
KUCCPS has even gone the extra mile by using several higher learning institutions like universities such as Chuka university where students can get full access to assistance, especially on career choices and navigating the portal.
Mrs Joyce Mghoi, who is in charge of Career Services at Chuka University appreciated the idea of KUCCPS joining hands with the universities to ensure that students have enough information and can access professional assistance before embarking on application.
"As a centre of career services, we are working hard to ensure that all the students who are facing difficulties in terms of picking the best career paths are advised appropriately and have a wider knowledge about the career they want to pursue", she said.
KUCCPS is an entity bestowed the responsibility of placing students in various universities and colleges. Therefore, their role is fundamental to the prosperity of Kenya's young population who are looking to upgrade their education.
The institution was formulated after dissolving the Joint Admission Board (JAB) which was the leading player in the placement of understudies to universities.
Before, the JAB intake was anticipated by numerous students looking to secure a spot at one of the top tier universities in Kenya. However, the game has entirely transformed with the emergence of KUCCPS placement. Students in the past hardly completed online applications and it was mostly manual system.
After the entire university placement underwent an overhaul and KUCCPS came on board, students found it easier to process their application and today KUCCPS has helped thousands qualify for a university or college spot with their sophisticated technological innovations representative of a new era.
If you have recently completed your Kenya Certificate Of Secondary Education (KCSE) then you can use this parastatal's resources to earn a spot at your coveted university. Every year there is a KUCCPS intake period for those understudies that quality for university and college slots.
KUCCPS tries it's best to serve every student impartially by availing all the requirements on its website. They have different approach from the previously mandated institution for this role JAB.
KUCCPS portal also offers career guidance since choosing a career can be tough move mostly when you are clueless about available options.
The parastatal under its outreach program ascertains that all students in doubt of the appropriate course receive sufficient advice before making a move and all you need to do is to get in touch and pose your inquiries. KUCCPS has frequently updated database of Kenyan institutions that any understudy can browse.
When you are looking for the most appropriate KUCCPS courses and figuring out the ideal institution you will have an entire database at your disposal. The government institution on its website has the entire collection of university and college courses on offer.
Even better, those looking for a KUCCPS transformation can browse revised and updated options that were not available on their first application.
The Writer, David Amollo is a Second Year, Communication Studies student at Chuka University.
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