Ng’arua Maarifa assists student’s access information

By Bob Aston

The Ng’arua Maarifa Centre has proved to be useful to last year Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) candidates. The candidates have been rushing to the Maarifa Centre to check their university application status as well as to download admission letters.

The internet is becoming an increasingly important medium as people are turning to it to access information. With internet access being a problem in Sipili as there is only one cybercafé in the area that charges Ksh 2 per minute, the Maarifa Centre has enabled students to have free internet access.

Students accessing internet at the Maarifa Centre

Over 72,000 candidates who sat for Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) in 2013 have been selected to join various public universities and colleges.

According to the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS), 56,937 students have been placed in public universities while the Government will also sponsor 15,393 candidates to pursue various diploma courses in middle level colleges across the country.

Charles Wahome, 18, a resident of Ndaragwiti managed to get an A- grade at Ndururumo High School in KCSE examination. He has been frequenting the Maarifa Centre since KCSE results were announced to use the internet to seek for university placement.

During one of his visits he reviewed one of his courses and decided to apply for Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering at Machakos University College. He was later on informed that he had been accepted at Machakos University College.

“I always wanted to do civil engineering since I was young. When I was reviewing my course I decided to apply for civil engineering. Later on I was informed that I had been accepted at Machakos University College and that I should go to a cyber to print the form,” said Charles.

On Thursday he was all smiles as a Maarifa staff member assisted him to access his account in KUCCPS portal where he managed to download and print his admission letter. He is now waiting to join the university on 3^rd September 2014.

Community members accessing internet at the Maarifa Centre

Similarly, Nahashon Njuguna, 18, could not hide his joy as he held his admission letter after he had been assisted to download and print the form. He said that accessing internet services in Sipili is a problem but thanks to Arid Lands Information Network (ALIN) this is no longer a problem.

He has been travelling from Kio area, a distance of close to five (5) kilometers to access internet at the Maarifa Centre. Nahashon is set to study Bachelor of Education (Arts)-Business studies at Moi University. He got a B plain grade in KCSE examination at Lariak Day Secondary School. He is now set to report at the university on 22^nd September 2014.

“I managed to download and print the admission form at the Maarifa Centre. Today they have assisted me to open a KRA pin and also to apply for HELB. I have not even been charged a shilling at the Maarifa Centre,” said Nahashon.

On his part, Fred Njuguna, 19, was at the Maarifa Centre to confirm his reporting date at the University. He is set to study Bachelor of Agribusiness at Maseno University. Fred who scored a B+ at Mary Mother of Grace Boys Secondary School has always been passionate about agriculture. He expects to teach the community about Kilimo Biashara once he graduates.

He has already started applying for Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) loan after acquiring KRA pin. Fred has been helping his parents in their farm but he now expects that the knowledge that he is going to gain at the University will be useful as his parents will now start practicing agriculture as a business.

KUCCPS which replaced the Joint Admissions Board (JAB) has lowered the minimum university entry requirement to B- (Minus) of 58 points for female students and grade B of 60 points for male students. Candidates with grade C- (minus) were also eligible for diploma programmes.