Rule on picking varsity courses changed

Form Four students will now choose courses they want to pursue in public universities after results of the national examinations have been announced.

Commission for Higher Education chief executive officer David Some said: “All KCSE (Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education) candidates in both public and private secondary schools in the country would visit their former schools and choose courses after release of results of their national examinations.”

He said this is part of new education reforms that came up with eight new laws for implementation.

Prof Some, a former Moi University vice-chancellor, said: “My commission wanted all education reforms fully implemented for students to be able to choose their preferred courses after the results are out.”

This is a departure from the old system where students used to choose courses before they sat the examinations.

Prof Some was addressing students, teachers and parents at the Kapsabet Boy’s High School in Nandi County during prayers and a prize-giving function.

The school was ranked number eight among national schools and number 13 nationally after posting 10.225 grades.

He challenged Kenyans to take up new challenges and prepare for industrialisation and realisation of Vision 2030 goals.

Prof Some said the new arrangement would enable students to choose courses they want based on marks scored.

“My commission wants middle-level colleges retained because Kenya is a developing county that needs technically-skilled people to make the country realise Vision 2030,” he said.

The vice-chancellor of Maasai Mara University, Prof David Serem, and the deputy vice-chancellor of Eldoret University, Prof Jacob Bitok, decried the low number of students from Nandi County who joined public universities.

Prof Serem and Prof Jacob Bitok said students should avoid engaging in activities that could ruin their future.

They urged the learners to be serious with their work in order to produce excellent results.