Government waives fees for first-year university students placed by KUCCPS

The government has announced that it has nullified school fees for first-year students placed in universities by Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS.)

Through a statement dated July 19,  Principal Secretary State Department for Higher Education Beatrice Inyangala said the latest structure will be issued from August 5.

Inyangala told parents to ignore earlier communication from the institutions. "The Ministry of Education wishes to inform the public, particularly parents and guardians of students that the fees to be paid by students and their families as relates to the full cost of each degree programme as previously communicated in the admission letters is hereby nullified and does not apply anymore," Inyangala said.

According to her, beginning August 5, the respective institutions will communicate the new fees to be paid by each student as a household contribution," she said.

The ministry however explained that the placement of students in the respective academic programmes remains unchanged.

Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) placed the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) 2023 cohort of students in various degree programmes and the information was communicated to the students by the respective universities.

The change has been made following rising concerns that many students set to join universities in September might miss out on government funding should action not be taken.

On Thursday this week, PS Inyang'ala appearing before the National Assembly Education Committee in Parliament said they could not cater for loans and scholarships for the 2023 KCSE exam candidates that have already been placed in various universities.

This comes in the wake of the realization that a major crisis looms in the education sector after it emerged that thousands of students set to join universities in September might miss out on government funding.

The PS told the National Assembly Education Committee chaired by Tinderet MP Julius Melly that they require Sh22.9 billion to sustain the students.

However, in a budget review occasioned by the withdrawal of the Finance Bill 2024, the Higher Education Loans Board's initial budget of Sh31.9 billion has been reduced by Sh710 million.

The Universities Fund meant for scholarships was trimmed by Sh2.6 billion from the earlier allocated Sh19.6 billion.

"This leaves 153,292 year 1 students (KCSE 2023 candidates)) who were placed by Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Services (KUCCPS) in universities inadequately funded," the PS told lawmakers.

"The students are due to report to their respective universities in September 2024. The resultant deficit for the Financial year 20204/2025 printed estimates is Sh22,897 million."

In the new funding model, students from households with Sh5,995 income were set to enjoy 95 per cent of government funding.

Families with earnings of between Sh5,995 to Sh23,670 will benefit from 90 per cent while those ranging between Sh23,671 and Sh70,000 will get 80 per cent of government funding. Those from families with an income of over Sh120,000 were to be funded up to 60 per cent.

Between Sh70,001 and Sh119,999 will get 70 per cent of funding. Inyang'ala, who appeared before the committee to defend the department's budget in Supplemental 1, also stated that the cuts will affect continuing students.

She said the current allocation for the Differentiated Unit Cost (DUC) funding for continuing students is only Sh23 billion, which represents 38.75 per cent, falling below the ideal funding level of 80 per cent.