Parliament Examines University Admissions for Students Without National IDs
Parliament has expressed concerns regarding the ongoing issue of university admissions, highlighting that some students expected to join universities nationwide have not yet received their national identity cards.
This situation is causing unease among legislators, who fear that the absence of identity cards could hinder students’ applications for university funding.
Committee Meeting and Summons
During a meeting held by the National Assembly Education Committee on Tuesday, members expressed their worries about the impact of the lack of identity cards on university funding applications.
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In response to this issue, the Committee on Education has summoned several senior government officials to address the situation.
The officials summoned include:
- Principal Secretary for Higher Education
- Representative from eCitizen
- Higher Education Loans Board Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
- University Funding Model CEO
These officials are expected to discuss the challenges faced by students lacking identification cards when applying for university funding.
Accreditation of University Programs
The Committee on Education is also set to engage with the Commission for University Education to address the accreditation of university programs. This meeting aims to streamline the accreditation process, ensuring that university programs meet the necessary standards and requirements.
Legislative Review: The Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2023
In addition to addressing the identity card issue, Members of Parliament reviewed a bill designed to prevent the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) from placing students in private universities.
The Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2023 proposes amendments to the Universities Act, No. 42 of 2012, with the following key objectives:
- Abolish Public Funding for Private Universities: The bill seeks to stop the allocation of public funds to private universities.
- Regulate Student Placement: It aims to bar KUCCPS from placing students in private universities to protect public resources from misuse by private entities not covered under the Public Finance Management Act, 2015.
- Repeal Conditional Grants: The bill proposes repealing the law that allows universities to receive conditional grants from the government.
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The proposed Clause 2 of the Bill suggests amending section 53(4) (b) of the principal Act to eliminate the issuance of conditional grants to private universities.
Parliament Examines University Admissions for Students Without National IDs
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