Senator Mwaruma Grills KUCCPS Over Closed Teacher College Portal That Could Shut Out Thousands

The Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) is facing mounting pressure over delays in opening applications for teacher training colleges, with lawmakers demanding urgent explanations and timelines from education authorities.

Taita Taveta Senator Johnes Mwaruma has formally sought a statement from the Senate Committee on Education, questioning why the KUCCPS portal for diploma teacher training courses remains closed while admissions and placements for other programmes continue.

Speaking during a Senate plenary session on Tuesday, the senator expressed concern that the prolonged delay is creating uncertainty for thousands of students interested in pursuing careers in teaching.

Mwaruma warned that continued inaction could deny qualified learners an opportunity to join teacher training institutions, urging the Education Committee to establish the reasons behind the delay and provide a clear roadmap on when applications will officially open.

“The delay in opening the KUCCPS portal risks locking out learners who are ready and passionate about joining the teaching profession,” he stated.

Beyond the admissions delay, the senator is also seeking comprehensive information on teacher education institutions across the country. He wants the committee to table a list of all accredited public and private teacher training colleges, their student capacities, and current staffing levels, including both teaching and non-teaching personnel.

Mwaruma further called for transparency on the cost of teacher training, requesting details on tuition fees charged by colleges and the amount of government capitation allocated per student. He also wants clarification on how capitation funds are disbursed and whether institutions receive the funds in lump sums or phased instalments.

In addition, the senator raised questions about financial support available to trainees, seeking confirmation on whether students enrolled in teacher training colleges qualify for assistance from the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB).

The concerns come amid increased scrutiny of KUCCPS following complaints from students who reported inconsistencies on the placement portal after the closure of the second revision window. Some applicants who had received SMS notifications confirming placement later found their status displayed as “Not Yet Placed.”

KUCCPS subsequently assured affected students that those who received official placement confirmation messages had successfully secured admission slots and should not be alarmed by temporary portal discrepancies.

Meanwhile, HELB Chief Executive Officer Geoffrey Monari recently announced that student loan applications are expected to open in July after KUCCPS completes the ongoing placement process, adding urgency to calls for the teacher training admissions exercise to be concluded without further delays.