Reprieve for thousands of learners pursuing higher education alternatives

For thousands of Kenyan students, missing a university application deadline may feel like the end of the road. But education stakeholders are urging them to think again for alternative routes to higher education.

According to Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS), 212,510 of the 268,714 candidates who scored C+ and above in the 2025 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations applied for placement.

This means more than 50,000 learners who attained the minimum university entry grade either did not apply, missed the application deadline or chose not to pursue higher education locally.

The figures have triggered concern among education stakeholders at a time when the Government is pursuing its 100 per cent transition policy.

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba emphasizes the importance of ensuring that eligible learners have an opportunity to continue with their education.

The government has also taken steps to make higher education more accessible, including extending application periods, reducing the cost of some courses and providing loans and other financial support to students joining universities, technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions and other tertiary colleges.

However, for some learners, it is a question of information, while for others it is uncertainty about careers, fear of making the wrong choice, lack of exposure to available courses or the belief that opportunities are limited to a few familiar universities and professions.

 It is this gap that an international education expo, ‘The Higher Education and Career Fair’ in Nairobi hopes to address.

 Organised by Imperial Education Consultants (IEC), in partnership with institutions including Constructor University in Germany, the expo is targeting thousands of learners who may be uncertain about their next move.

IEC Director Mohammed Karama said the event is intended to help families make informed decisions rather than allowing uncertainty to determine the future of young people.

 “Ours is to help parents and students make informed choices of the degrees and universities they would like to join abroad,” Karama said.

The expo will link students with over 400 universities in over 20 countries, with Karama saying the advisory to students or parents and university-linkage services will be free.

It will offer students and parents a rare opportunity to interact directly, explore degree programmes and receive career guidance.

For him, changing the mindset around higher education is critical for learners to make informed decisions.

“A student who misses a KUCCPS application should not conclude that university is no longer possible. Similarly, a learner should not feel compelled to pursue a particular course simply because it is popular among friends or perceived to guarantee employment,” he said.

 Karama further said students need accurate information about programmes, career prospects, costs, scholarships and alternative destinations before making decisions that could shape their professional lives.

“We encourage students to have direct contact and meetings with the respective university representative to grow confidence and trust and to help them make the best choices,” Karama said.

The expo will also expose learners to emerging areas such as artificial intelligence, fields that are rapidly changing the nature of work and creating new opportunities for young people willing to acquire relevant skills.

For students who have always viewed studying abroad as an impossible dream, the experience of other Kenyan learners offers another perspective.

Terry Muriungi, Constructor University's Sub-Saharan Africa representative, said Kenyan students should not assume they must first learn German to study in Germany.

 “Many think that for you to study in Germany you have to first learn German. That is not true,” Muriungi said.

 Some programmes at the university cost about Sh500,000 a year, she said, while scholarships may be available for high-performing students. Certain programmes also offer dual degrees, which can broaden graduates' opportunities in the job market

 “The German economy is absorbing highly trained personnel in their companies and is good news to many,” Muriungi said.

 Castro Tsuma, a student, is pursuing a degree in Information Technology at Constructor University after securing admission through IEC.

He says studying in an English-speaking environment while having the opportunity to work between classes has made his experience rewarding.

 “The people in Germany are good and very friendly, and I get to work when I am not in class, earning some money for my use,” Tsuma said.

His journey offers living proof and an important lesson to students facing uncertainty that an international education pathway can become a reality.

IEC Nairobi Manager Marthad Said Ali said the organisation also helps students access language and science qualifications required for visa applications.

“Learners must be willing to change their minds, challenge assumptions and explore possibilities beyond what they already know,” Said said.

The consultancy is also expanding its reach to countries including Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique.