All students should leave school knowing all their postsecondary or college options, it is their right. No student should be prevented from pursuing a postsecondary education due to lack of awareness of their options, lack of relevant information, lack of guidance or misinformation about college fees and costs. Financial support exists for needy students.

What is postsecondary education?
Postsecondary education is a type of education that occurs immediately after secondary school education. It takes place in postsecondary training institutions such as Vocational Training Centers (VTCs), Technical and Vocational Colleges (TVCs) as well as Universities.

Who can attend or pursue a postsecondary education?
Postsecondary secondary education can be pursued by all regardless of students’ academic grades. This is to say, there is a postsecondary option for every grade obtained. Even those who have not gone to secondary schools but have Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) can pursue a postsecondary education.

What postsecondary options are open to you?
Depending on your interests and academic abilities, there are three (3) major postsecondary options open to you. These are;

1. Vocational Training Centers (VTCs)
2. Technical and Vocational Colleges (TVCs)
3. Universities

Vocational Training Centers (TVCs)
Vocational Training Centers are training institutions that provide various vocational courses to equip students with vocational and entrepreneurial skills that enable them to get better jobs or start their own businesses. In Kenya VTCs offers two (2) major types of courses which are artisan certificate courses and craft certificate courses.

Technical and Vocational Colleges (TVCs)
Technical and Vocational Colleges are colleges that provides technical courses that equips young people with technical and entrepreneurial skills. TVCs in Kenya provide three (3) major types of courses which are; artisan certificate courses, craft certificate courses and diploma certificate courses.

Universities
Universities are the highest level of postsecondary education offering degree courses among others. University education equips students with managerial skills required in the management of various sectors of the economy.

What are the admission requirements for postsecondary options?
There is a postsecondary option for every grade obtained in school. These are;

Artisan certificate courses
The minimum admission requirements for artisan courses is Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) mean grade D- (minus) and below. Those with a KCPE certificate can also enroll for various artisan courses. Artisan certificate courses in Kenya takes on average two (2) years to complete. A student with a KCPE certificate can pursue an artisan course then craft certificate course, then a diploma course and then a degree course in universities.

Craft certificate courses
The minimum admission requirements for craft certificate courses in Kenya is KCSE mean grade D (plain) and above. Craft certificate courses take on average two (2) years to complete.

Diploma certificate courses
The minimum admission requirements for diploma certificate courses in Kenya is KCSE mean grade C- (minus) and above. Diploma certificate courses takes on average three (3) years to complete.

Degree certificate courses
The minimum admission requirements for degree courses in Kenya is KCSE mean grade C+ (plus) and above. Degree courses takes on average four (4) years to complete.

What are the benefits of postsecondary education?
There are many benefits associated with postsecondary or college education. Therefore, postsecondary or college education should be a plan for every student. Some of the benefits of going to college include;

1. College or postsecondary education equips students with skills for long-term career growth and personal development
2. College educated students are well paid than students who do not have college education
3. College education empowers students to participate actively in social, economic and political affairs of the country
4. College education opens up one’s mind as compared to those who have not gone to college
5. Among others

Why are many young people not attending college?
There are some factors that hinder many young people from pursuing college education. Some of them include;

1. Lack of awareness. Many students leave school unaware of their postsecondary or college options, as a result they fail to apply and enroll in colleges. As you have read above, there is a college option for every grade.
2. Lack of career guidance and support. Many students are not getting the guidance and support they need to make informed career choices. Besides, navigating college and financial aid applications is not easy for many students especially those from low income families and those who are first in their families to attend college. Giving such students guidance and support will help them apply to colleges.
3. Misconceptions of college costs and fees. Many students overestimate college costs or fees. With the right information, students can make better choices about their college education. In addition, there are various financial support available for needy students. One major source is Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) which gives loans to needy students in universities and colleges.

Now, you have the information; make college education a plan, because it is for everyone including you.