Thousands snub public universities
What you need to know:
- They were concerned that many students who score high grades in Form Four final exams miss out on preferred courses or are not selected to join university.
- Mbooni MP Micheal Kisoi said most Kenyans were not happy with the way the selection.
At least 13,000 admitted to public universities last year turned down the offer, according to Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang.
Even though they attained the marks for university admission, the students opted for local private universities while others went abroad.
“A quarter of those selected to join the 30 public universities and colleges did not take up the offer,” Dr Kipsang told National Assembly’s Education Committee Thursday.
A total of 53,000 students were selected to join universities last year.
“Each year about 25 per cent of students admitted to universities do not report. There is no empirical study yet to ascertain the cause of this,” said Dr Kipsang.
“They either join local private universities or they go abroad,” he told the MPs.
Currently, the Kenya University and Colleges Central Placement Services distributes students to each of the 30 public institutions, according to their capacities. Universities then allocate courses to students according to their applications.
The MPs put the PS to task to explain the fairness of the selection.
MISS OUT ON PREFERED COURSES
They were concerned that many students who score high grades in Form Four final exams miss out on preferred courses or are not selected to join university.
Mbooni MP Micheal Kisoi said most Kenyans were not happy with the way the selection.
“Kenyans are disappointment. It is very demoralising when a student who has scored straight As misses out on admission or is denied the chance to take a ‘prestigious’ course,” Mr Kisoi lamented.
The MPs claimed students are unfairly denied the chance to study courses such as medicine, engineering and actuarial science.
“A student from Kajiado County scored an ‘A’ but was not given any course by the Joint Admissions Board,” claimed Kajiado Woman Representative Mary Seneta.
