More students who qualified for university admission are now choosing technical and vocational training over degree programmes, pointing to changing education and career preferences as flexible, skills-based learning continues to attract thousands of young people.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba revealed that 8,915 students who attained the minimum university entry grade of C+ and above in the 2025 KCSE examinations chose to pursue non-degree courses in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions instead of enrolling in universities.
Speaking during the release of the 2026/2027 Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) placement results, Ogamba said the growing number reflects increasing confidence in technical education, driven by reforms that have made training more flexible and responsive to labour market needs.
"This year a total of 8,915 students who qualified for degree programmes in the 2025 KCSE examinations opted for non-degree programmes in tertiary institutions and have also been placed. In other words, out of those who qualified to go to degree programmes in universities, they decided at the very first instance to go to TVET institutions," he said.
Ogamba said the trend has been encouraged by the introduction of modular curricula in TVET institutions, allowing trainees to acquire practical skills through short, industry-focused courses.
"TVET institutions are rolling out modularised curricula, and these curricula are offered through short, accessible and certifiable competency units that can be implemented within three months to six months. This has resulted in shorter durations for skilling designed to give trainees market-specific skills," the CS said.
He explained that the new model allows learners to complete individual training modules, enter the job market and later return to continue their education whenever they choose.
"Many trainees now walk to the nearest institutions for focused modules that are offered. They undertake those modules, and once they complete, they graduate, go out there to work, and come back to continue with their studies as they desire," he added.
At the same time, Ogamba announced that KUCCPS had placed 293,869 students into universities and other tertiary institutions for the 2026/2027 academic year.
Of the total placements, 202,133 students secured places in degree programmes, while 28,246 were admitted to the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC). Another 765 joined Kenya Utalii College, 500 were placed in the Kenya School of Law Diploma in Law programme and 875 were admitted to secondary teacher training colleges.
The CS noted that 270,508 candidates qualified for university admission after scoring a mean grade of C+ and above in the 2025 KCSE examinations, compared to 327,157 available university spaces, meaning universities had more capacity than the number of qualified applicants.
He announced that KUCCPS would reopen the placement portal to give another opportunity to eligible students who did not apply during the first application window.
"If there are those who missed the opportunity to apply for any reason, we are going to give them a chance to reapply, and we have directed KUCCPS to immediately devise a mechanism to allow later applications for placements," Ogamba said.
He urged all eligible candidates who are yet to apply to take advantage of the new application window, saying no qualified learner should miss the chance to access higher education and training.