Thousands of First-Year University Students Risk Missing Exam Due to Unpaid Tuition Fees.
Around 50,000 first-year university students risk missing their end-of-semester examinations due to unpaid tuition fees.
This situation persists despite the fact that they have received financial support from the government through the higher education funding model.
In response to this issue, members of Parliament, during a session held on Tuesday, September 24, directed Education Cabinet Secretary (CS) Julius Ogamba to instruct universities to allow students to sit their exams regardless of their fee payment status.
The MPs requested that universities give students the opportunity to complete their examinations while the government resolves ongoing challenges with the funding model.
Statistics on Student Enrollment and Payment
Of the 138,535 students placed by the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (Kuccps), 124,364 students have already reported to their respective institutions.
However, only 75,000 of these students have managed to fully pay their tuition fees.
The issue was raised during CS Ogamba’s appearance before the National Assembly Committee on Education.
During the session, MPs criticized the implementation of the higher education funding model and called for revisions, particularly since nearly half of the students were assigned to incorrect financial categories. They demanded that students should not be penalized for systemic issues.
Challenges with the Means Testing Instrument (MTI)
The chair of the committee, Julius Melly, instructed the CS to issue a directive allowing students to sit for their exams.
He noted that the current Means Testing Instrument (MTI), used to determine student eligibility for funding, was not yielding the correct results.
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Melly emphasized that multiple meetings with education sector stakeholders had not resolved the issue, and urged the Ministry to improve the MTI to provide accurate data.
MP Timothy Toroitich from Marakwet East proposed suspending the new funding model until Parliament can thoroughly review its effectiveness.
Student Appeals on Funding Allocations
CS Ogamba revealed that 11,132 students have lodged appeals against the allocation of scholarships and student loans.
Out of these, 6,548 students pointed out the high cost of their academic programs as the primary problem. These students have been categorized under Band 4 and Band 5.
- Band 4: Students receive 40% of their program’s cost as a scholarship, 30% as a loan, and their families are responsible for the remaining 30%, in addition to the student’s upkeep.
- Band 5: Students qualify for a 30% scholarship and a 30% loan, with families covering the remaining 40%.
University programs range in cost from Sh144,000 for the least expensive to Sh600,000 for the most costly.
“The appeals window is still open, until December 2024. The appeals are processed on a rolling basis. The outcome of the appeals will be communicated to the specific students,” Mr Ogamba said.
Criticism of the Funding Model
Introduced last year, the higher education funding model has faced criticism from students and their families.
A nationwide student strike was planned two weeks ago, but the government intervened to halt it. President William Ruto has since established a 129-member committee to review the funding model.
CS Ogamba attributed the negative reception to misinformation and acknowledged that the Ministry of Education had not adequately educated the public on the model’s goals and operations.
This lack of awareness, he said, led to confusion and created room for misinformation.
Parliamentary Concerns and Student Opposition
Lugari MP Nabii Nabwera questioned how the categorization of Band 5 students was done without Parliament’s approval.
Nyamira Woman Representative Jerusha Momanyi also criticized the model, noting that many students were being pressured to accept it under threat of losing funding.
Momanyi questioned the ministry’s readiness to implement the model, expressing concerns that students felt the funding model was being forced upon them.
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Kibra MP Peter Orero asked CS Ogamba how the Ministry planned to address the problems and find a solution.
As the situation develops, the Ministry of Education is expected to take further steps to address the concerns raised, while universities continue to grapple with the implications of unpaid fees on the upcoming examinations.
Thousands of First-Year University Students Risk Missing Exam Due to Unpaid Tuition Fees.
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