Ng’arua Maarifa proving vital to students reviewing courses

By Moses Ndung’u

The 2014 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) candidates started an online course revision of degree and diploma programmes for the 2015/2016 placement on April 20, 2015 in an exercise that will end on May 4, 2015.

The Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) has it that all applicants will have to submit their applications online. This is in the digitization trend undertaken by the government that is set and armed to steer the country towards a fully digitized patch of the globe.

Now, for those aspiring to join the institution of higher learning, either on a regular-government sponsorship- or on a parallel basis, the work load towards achieving their dreams has been brought at a de-marginalizing distance, no intimidation no fear of the large bureaucratic arm, only the student and the KUCCPS body.

Students accessing internet at Ng'arua Maarifa Centre

Thought this is a good turn of events, most students who qualify will have to delve deep into their pockets to try to make out the money required for the application fee and also online fee paid at cyber café.

“Though KUCCPS are charging ksh 1500 the cyber people have found a gold mine by charging us a shilling per minute to access internet. This is difficult for some of us who have to spend as much as three days for a comprehensive revision,” said Nderitu Mwangi, a successful student aspiring to join the campus.

Fortunately, the presence of Ng’arua Maarifa Center in Sipili has helped many students to access online services at no cost at all.

“I have been at the Maarifa Centre almost the whole week. I am glad that it has been possible to access internet free of charge at the Maarifa. Ng’arua Maarifa Center is a blessing to us and words can’t say how much we appreciate,” said Mwangi.

According to Prof. Jacob Kaimenyi, 61,000 candidates will have the coveted opportunity of pursuing their higher education through the government sponsored regular programs. The cut-off for male students was fixed at a grade B of 60 points and a B- of 58 points for female students.

In addition all KCSE candidates with a minimum overall grade of C- (Minus) and above and who have not benefited from government sponsorship in the past will be eligible to apply for Diploma courses.