Education Committee Advocates For Expansion of KUCCPS Admission Scope to Include Private and International University

The National Assembly Education Committee led by Chairperson Hon. Julius Melly (Tinderet), has formally urged the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS)to consider extending its admissions scope beyond government-sponsored students.

Hon. Melly who spoke after leading Members of the Committee on a fact-finding visit to KUCCPS headquarters in Nairobi, emphasized the need for the institution to broaden its mandate to also include private and international universities.

“KUCCPS should consider being a one-stop shop for all matters of admission. It should help place all students in local, private, and even international universities,” stated Hon. Melly during a meeting with top KUCCPS officials, including CEO, Dr. Agnes Wahome and Board Chairperson, Cyrus Gituai.

Responding to the request, Dr. Wahome and Mr. Gituai highlighted ongoing efforts to amend the Universities Act, allowing centralized placement for both state-sponsored and self-sponsored students.

Dr. Wahome and Mr. Gituai sought the Committee’s support in delinking funding from placement, allowing KUCCPS to collaborate with numerous institutions locally and internationally. Gituai proposed that KUCCPS handles international scholarships, currently managed by the Ministry of Education, emphasizing the agency’s competence.

MPs in the session unanimously supported the idea of anchoring KUCCPS in the law, transforming it into a Semi-Autonomous Government Agency akin to the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development and the Kenya National Qualifications Authority.

The Committee reassured KUCCPS officials of their support to effectively fulfill their mandate.