The Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) Chief Executive Officer, Agnes Wahome, explained on Tuesday how the agency determines the placement of students in various tertiary institutions. Speaking at a Stakeholders Forum during the official release of the 2024 placement results, Wahome outlined three main factors considered in the process.
According to the CEO, the placement process is guided by the government's Placement Policy and Processing Procedure. The primary factors include:
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Applicant’s Choices and Merit: The service takes into account the college or university choices made by applicants and their academic qualifications. KUCCPS ensures that students are placed based on the institutions they selected and their eligibility for those institutions.
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Course Clusters: Courses for both universities and colleges are categorized into 23 clusters based on subject combinations. Each combination consists of at least four subjects required for a specific course. The KUCCPS portal automatically calculates and displays a student's cluster points for each group, simplifying the process for applicants.
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Institutional Capacities: The approved capacities of universities and colleges are strictly adhered to. For example, if a university has a capacity of 1,000 students for a particular program, KUCCPS ensures that this limit is not exceeded.
Wahome also emphasized the application of affirmative action policies for gender, persons with disabilities, and marginalized regions, ensuring inclusivity in the placement process.
"Over the years, the Board has developed robust policies and internal control systems to ensure that the placement process is transparent, efficient, fair, and equitable," Wahome added.