High school students aiming for higher education have been urged to utilize the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) mentorship programmes to make well-informed career choices.
KUCCPS, in collaboration with Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST), has been conducting career guidance and mentorship forums in various counties, including Vihiga and Bungoma. These sessions help learners identify courses that best fit their academic strengths and interests.
Guidance from Education Leaders
- MMUST Vice Chancellor Solomon Sibairo encouraged students to excel academically and take advantage of the government's planned free university education for qualified candidates.
- Professor Bernadette Sabuni highlighted the importance of aligning course selections with academic performance to increase chances of admission, cautioning against poorly matched choices even with good grades.
Currently, KUCCPS is running a month-long course revision window allowing students placed in universities and colleges for the 2026-27 academic year to reconsider their course selections before the academic year begins in September.
Strategic Course Selection
Students were advised to diversify their programme choices instead of selecting the same highly competitive course across all options. They were also reminded to review subject and cluster requirements as well as past admission cut-off points to improve their chances of securing placements.
Highly competitive courses such as medicine, pharmacy, and engineering receive over 10,000 applications for fewer than 1,000 places, making strategic selection critical.
Broadening Career Perspectives
Speakers emphasized that success is not limited to STEM careers alone. Professor Annette Okoth explained that science encompasses both natural and social sciences, which complement each other.
Students were encouraged to consider their personal strengths and career aspirations rather than following popular trends or misconceptions about career prospects.
