62,000 candidates who scored a grade of c+ and above in the 2017 Kenya certificate of secondary education (KCSE) have been selected to join public universities under the government sponsored programme.

A total of 69,151 candidates scored the minimum c+ and above but according to the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) 553 opted to undertake diploma courses.

The number of candidates who have qualified to join university is lower by 21,538 compared to the 84,389 candidates who attained C+ and above in 2016.

MORE BOYS THAN GIRLS TO JOIN UNIVERSITY

Ironically, despite female candidates’ performing better than their male counterparts in the 2017 KCSE, the number of male candidates who will be joining university is slightly higher than that of girls.

36,945 of those selected are male while 25,906 are female.

“In six subjects particularly, female students have performed way better than male students and even out of the schools that have performed very well, most of them are girl’s school,” said former education CS Fred Matiang’i while announcing the  2018 KCSE results.

615,773 candidates sat for the 2017 KCSE, 142 students recorded straight As.

Education cabinet secretary Amina Mohamed said that her ministry is working towards closing the gender gap.