2019 KCSE Candidate Who Scored A Plain Snubs Degree, Goes for Diploma Course

A Kenyan student has done the unthinkable by going for a diploma course despite scoring an A plain in the 2019 KCSE examination.

Kahindi Bruno Shariff, who was among the 627 candidates who scored an A plain in last year’s KCSE exam, has opted to pursue a diploma in pharmaceutical technology, a highly sought after course.

He is one of the 2,632 other students who attained the minimum university entry grade (C+) to pursue a degree but have opted for diploma courses, according to results released by the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Services (KUCCPS) this week.

Pharmaceutical technology, chemical engineering, journalism, ICT, civil and structural engineering, architecture, laboratory technology, and music are some of the top courses chosen by this group.

The 2,632 top KCSE performers, including 78 who scored B+ (plus), are among the 88,724 students who have applied for admission to Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions for the academic years 2020/2021.

“TVET institutions declared 276,163 capacities for diploma, craft certificate, and artisan certificate courses and 88,724 applicants were placed, translating to 32 percent of the capacity,” said KUCCPS CEO John Muraguri.

KUCCPS indicated that out of the 88,724 students who have been selected to join TVET institutions, 53,726 will pursue diploma courses, craft certificates (29,112), and artisan certificate courses (5,886).

Education CS George Magoha has been urging parents to change their mindsets by enrolling their children to TVET institutions for technical courses, which he argues are more marketable than university degrees.

“Parents in this country should change their mindset about these courses. In fact, those who train in technical subjects like electricity earn more money and employ others unlike the majority of university graduates who spend years after college without jobs,” Prof. Magoha said in the past.