More students settle for science-related courses

More students are enrolling for technical courses rather than arts-based programmes, according to the latest figures released by a Government agency.

There has also been a rise in the number of students enrolling for Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) and Agriculture courses compared to those pursuing arts-related courses.

Statistics from the 2019/2020 placement results by the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS), which were released in Nairobi on Monday, show that 89,486 students were placed to pursue degree programmes.

While releasing the results, Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha said 57,687 students (64 per cent) would pursue STEM-related courses while 31,799 students (36 per cent) were placed in arts-related courses.

“In the STEM-related courses, 36,189 students (63 per cent) were male while 21,498 (37 per cent) were female,” Prof Magoha said.

The breakdown of placement in the STEM degree courses shows that Sciences attracted the highest number of students at 29,073, followed by Mathematics (12,881), Technology (9,164), Engineering (4,560) and Agriculture with 2,009.

Vocational training

A total of 58,851 students were placed to pursue technical and vocational education and training (TVET) programmes. Out of these, 28,024 students (48 per cent) were male and 30,827 (52 per cent) were female.

“Out of the 58,851 students placed, 37,369 (63 per cent) were placed in STEM-related courses while 21,482 (37 per cent) were placed in arts-related courses. In the STEM-related courses, 20,379 students (55 per cent) were male while 16,990 (45 per cent) were female,” Magoha said.

In the TVET sector, Engineering attracted the highest number of students at 15,326 followed by Sciences (11,115), Technology (5,220), Mathematics (3,538) and Agriculture (2,170).

Magoha said the TVET analysis for the 58,851 students who were placed by KUCCPS did not include the 39,542 students who applied directly to the TVET institutions, and whose applications were validated by KUCCPS during the placement process.

KUCCPS Chief Executive Officer John Muraguri said the service also placed students based on the affirmative action programme.

“In the universities, a total of 1,569 students were admitted to higher degree choices than they had applied for due to affirmative action. Another 526 students (496 males and 30 females) benefited due to gender considerations while 1,041 students from arid and semi-arid lands were enrolled in degree programmes that they had not initially qualified for,” Dr Muraguri said.

He said KUCCPS would open an online system for inter-institution transfer applications between May 1 and 31 to allow students who wished to transfer to other institutions or courses to do so.

“Thereafter, universities are required to immediately furnish us with admission reports for us to forward them to the Government to release funding for the students,” Muraguri said.