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KUCCPS placement: Why education remains most sought-after course
09th July, 2026 12:41 PM
Education has once again emerged as the most sought-after course in the latest Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) placement, with thousands of students choosing teaching-related programmes over other fields.
According to KUCCPS Chief Executive Officer Agnes Wahome, the continued demand for education courses is largely driven by the government’s ongoing recruitment of teachers, giving students confidence that they stand a better chance of securing employment after graduation.
Speaking during an interview on Thursday, July 9, 2026, after the release of the 2026 placement results, Wahome said the government’s commitment to employing teachers has significantly influenced students’ career choices.
“Education is a very popular career; the government has talked about opportunities for employing teachers, and it is happening; we have seen teachers employed throughout the country, and that has also influenced the careers students want. That assurance makes a lot of students want to take education,” Wahome said.
She added that parents have also played a major role in encouraging their children to pursue teaching careers.
“The parents also pushed that a lot,” she added.
Medicine demand surprises KUCCPS
Even as education remained the top choice, Wahome said KUCCPS had witnessed an unexpected increase in demand for medicine courses during this year’s placement.
She revealed that while students mainly contacted KUCCPS to enquire about placement timelines and programme availability, many parents specifically wanted their children to pursue medicine.
“What surprises me this time is the number of students who were applying for medicine, the demand. I get a lot of messages; my phone number is public. Very few students called to say they want medicine. The students ask, ‘When are you releasing it? Which university offers this programme?’ but the parents ask, ‘I want my child to do medicine.'” Wahome stated.
Wahome admitted that KUCCPS is still trying to understand what has fuelled the sudden rise in interest in medicine.
“I am yet to find out why the sudden craze about medicine,” she added.
She also highlighted the growing popularity of nursing, noting that KUCCPS has worked with the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) and the Nursing Council of Kenya to expand training opportunities.
According to Wahome, the collaboration has increased nursing slots at KMTC, while more universities have introduced degree programmes in nursing, giving students additional options in the healthcare sector
“Last year was nursing at KMTC; we have been able to work with KMTC and the Nursing Council to ensure we have many opportunities for nursing at KMTC, and now we have more universities offering nursing at a degree level,” Wahome noted.
