KUCCPS Opens Inter-University Transfers Portal
The Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) has opened its portal today, June 5, allowing students to transfer between universities and switch courses of their choice.
This development comes amid significant controversy and legislative scrutiny regarding university placements and associated fees.
National Assembly Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi revealed that the Standing Committee on Education has called for the revocation of all placements for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) 2023 class due to allegations of anomalies in the fees required for various courses.
He stated during a session in the National Assembly that the education committee had made declarations for the Minister of Education to withdraw all university admissions because of conflicts or anomalies in the fees that students are supposed to pay for various courses.
The Committee on Education has recommended the Ministry of Education withdraw all university admissions, citing anomalies in the fees the students are required to pay.
The placement results for university and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions for learners who sat KCSE in 2023 were released in May.
However, the placements have faced criticism, with allegations that some students are being forced into courses they never chose, while others are placed into schools they cannot afford.
KUCCPS CEO Mercy Wahome confirmed the portal’s opening date, noting the agency’s aim to facilitate students’ transitions to their preferred schools and courses efficiently.
Wahome assured that the transfer process would be smooth, targeting the completion of all transfers by July so that students could report to their respective institutions in August.
She emphasised the importance of applying for Higher Education Loans before the reporting dates, adding that 153,000 students (76 percent) who qualified will get Education funding, aiming for a seamless process so that by August all students should be settled in their schools.
The call for an investigation into alleged irregularities in fees and student placements arose after widespread complaints from students and parents.
Reports indicated that students and their families were being compelled to choose university courses based on affordability rather than qualifications and aspirations under the new funding model introduced last year.
First-year students, the first to experience this model, have already accumulated substantial fee balances, which are expected to increase as they progress.
With the second cohort set to join universities in August and September, many students and parents have signaled their intention to apply for inter-university transfers once the KUCCPS system opens.
Opiyo Wandayi called for clarity on the matter, asking the Education Committee chaired by Julius Melly (Tinderet) to issue a statement sooner than later.
He asserted that the current situation paints a picture of serious confusion in the universities and colleges sector, requiring immediate clarification for the issue to be addressed promptly.
This year, 134,743 candidates have been placed in public universities. However, 47,872 students who qualified for university admission by attaining a mean grade of C+ in the 2023 KCSE did not choose any degree course.
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Of these, 11,991 opted for diploma courses, while 35,881 qualifiers remain unaccounted for. The 2023 KCSE Examination saw a total of 899,453 candidates sit the exam.
According to KUCCPS, the placement process is governed by the Placement Policy and Processing Procedure, focusing on applicants’ choices, merit, and approved capacities.
KUCCPS Opens Inter-University Transfers Portal Today
