Last call for TVET applications as KUCCPS portal closes at midnight

KUCCPS CEO Mercy Wahome. /FILE

The window for applications to Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions through the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) closes at midnight on Wednesday, March 18, marking the final opportunity for thousands of prospective trainees to secure slots for the May intake.

KUCCPS opened the application portal on March 8, inviting 2025 KCSE candidates and Form Four leavers from previous years to apply for courses offered across national polytechnics, technical training institutes, institutes of science and technology, and other accredited technical colleges.

The placement process remains open to candidates of all KCSE mean grades, widening access to skills-based training.

TVET education continues to position itself as a practical alternative to university pathways, offering hands-on, competency-based training tailored to the demands of the modern labour market.

The programmes are anchored on industry-driven curricula designed to enhance employability and spur economic growth, with strong emphasis on fields such as engineering, information technology, hospitality, construction and catering.

This year’s application cycle has drawn heightened interest following the release of the 2025 KCSE results, where 722,511 out of 993,226 candidates failed to attain the minimum university entry grade of C+ (plus).

Of these, 359,144 scored grades D, D– and E, effectively leaving TVET institutions as the most viable pathway for further education and skills acquisition.

Entry requirements for TVET programmes vary depending on the level of study. Diploma courses typically require a minimum grade of C–, while craft certificate programmes admit candidates with a D, and artisan courses are accessible to those with an E.

The current intake is also unfolding against the backdrop of ongoing curriculum reforms under the modularisation framework.

The approach restructures training into smaller, self-contained units focused on specific competencies aligned with industry needs.

It places emphasis on practical instruction, with 90 per cent of training dedicated to hands-on skills and 10 per cent to theory.

Championed by TVET Principal Secretary Esther Muoria, modularisation allows learners to acquire and certify skills progressively.

Trainees can advance at their own pace, pause and resume learning when necessary, and enter the job market earlier with recognised modular qualifications instead of waiting to complete entire programmes.

As the deadline approaches, KUCCPS has issued a final call to eligible applicants yet to submit their choices, urging them to take advantage of the opportunity before the portal closes.

“Time is running out. All eligible applicants are encouraged to apply for placement to TVET institutions before the deadline of 18th March 2026. Don’t miss a chance to secure your spot,” the placement agency said.

"Log in to the KUCCPS Student’s portal http://students.kuccps.ac.ke and apply a TVET course of your choice."

With demand expected to remain high, the closing hours are likely to see a last-minute surge as candidates race against time to secure placement in technical courses increasingly viewed as critical to employment and entrepreneurship.