Education Ministry Revokes Fees for First-Year Students
The Ministry of Education has revoked previously issued fee structures for first-year students placed in universities by the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS).
This change impacts students set to join public universities in September for the 2023/2024 academic year.
In a statement, Higher Education Principal Secretary Beatrice Inyangala advised parents and guardians to disregard any prior fee communications.
The Ministry of Education announced that any previously communicated fee information in university admission letters is now null and void.
This decision follows recommendations made by Members of Parliament in June, who suggested that all universities recall admission letters to correct the fee figures.
Reasons for the Change
MPs had criticized the ministry for issuing letters with high fee amounts that discouraged students from enrolling.
They argued that the substantial fees caused uncertainty among students from low-income households.
To address this, the Ministry decided that universities should indicate the fees expected at the household level and those covered under financial aid.
The new fee structure will be introduced on August 5, 2024. Universities will directly communicate the revised fees at that time.
Inyangala assured students that their placements in specific academic programs remain secure, meaning their university admissions and placements to various courses are unaffected by the fee changes.
Financial Need Assessment
The Ministry of Education is required to complete the assessment of each student’s financial needs to determine the financial assistance they will receive.
The students joining this year will be the second cohort admitted under the new universities’ funding model.
This model classifies students into five categories, referred to as bands, ranging from the neediest (Band One) to those from high-income households (Band Five).
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In June, legislators scrutinized the new funding model and called for its nullification, questioning the criteria used to place students in different bands for scholarships and loans.
Marakwet MP Timothy Toroitich questioned whether the country rushed into the new funding model, suggesting that the Differentiated Unit Cost (DUC) model worked better.
He highlighted that many students from peasant farmer backgrounds preferred the previous model.
Impact on Course Selection
The new model prioritizes a student’s financial needs and separates placement from funding.
The cost of the course is taken into consideration, leading to universities issuing admission letters with the entire cost of the course. This situation has caused students to drop courses due to their high costs.
Education Ministry Revokes Fees for First-Year Students
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