Universities ordered to deliver new admission letters to first-year students by Monday

Universities have been directed to ensure that new admission letters reach all first-year students by Monday, August 19, 2024.

This follows President William Ruto's directive this week, instructing universities to update and communicate fee structures, including the annual household contributions required for degree programs.

At the same time, Education CS Julius Ogamba on Friday announced that 125,893 students who had applied for loans and scholarships under the Student-Centred Model will be receiving these letters.

"In accordance with the tenets of the Student-Centred Model, students have been awarded scholarships and loans according to their level of need, consistent with any one of the five predetermined bands," he said in a statement.

The CS also announced that the government is set to disburse Sh25.3 billion in scholarships and loans to the Financial Year 2024-2025 higher education students who have applied so far.

Ogamba reaffirmed the government's commitment to quality and affordable higher education.

"The Ministry remains dedicated to ensuring that student funding is allocated fairly and equitably, addressing the genuine needs of applicants. The evaluation criteria based on validated application information consider a student's family economic background, affirmative action, socio-demographic factors, and family education expenditures," he said.

In addition to that, the CS said students who may have questions and appeals on the fees to be paid should direct them to the ministry through the Higher Education Portal, www.hef.co.ke.

Ogamba added that in line with the government's commitment to leaving no one behind, the application portal will remain open. "The ministry assures that all additional applications will be processed swiftly on a rolling basis," he said.

The CS urged eligible students who wish to receive funding and have not yet applied to do so without delay to ensure prompt processing of their applications.

In July, Higher Education and Research PS Beatrice Inyangala nullified fees for first-year students placed in universities by KUCCPS. Inyangala said the new structure will be issued from August 19, 2024

"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 are hereby nullified and does not apply anymore," she said.

Some 153,292 students are set to join the university.