The Ministry of Education has nullified fee structures for all first-year students placed in universities by the Kenya Universities & Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) which had earlier been communicated to the first years by respective universities.
The Permanent Secretary (PS) State Department for Higher Education and Research Beatrice Inyangala in a July 20, 2024, letter advised students and parents to ignore earlier communication from the institutions, adding that a new fee structure will be issued by respective universities.
“Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) placed the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) 2023 Cohort of students in various degree programs.
The Ministry of Education wishes to inform the public, particularly parents/guardians of students, and students that the fees to be paid by students and their families/guardians as relates to the full cost of each degree program as previously communicated in the admission letters is hereby nullified, and does not apply anymore,” read part of the statement.
PS Inyangala noted that the respective universities will communicate the new fees to be paid by each student as household contribution beginning the 5th Day of August 2024.
Education Ministry Issues Directive to First Years & Universities
Further, the Education Ministry advised the first years and their parents/guardians to note that their placement in the respective academic programs remains unchanged.
Also Read: Over 150,000 Students Risk Not Joining University Over HELB
“We wish to confirm that their places in the academic programs are firmly secured,” added the PS.
The directive comes after concerns were raised over the high cost of fees for first years in various universities by Kenyans including Members of Parliament (MPs).
PS Beatrice Inyangala while appearing before the National Assembly Education Committee on Tuesday, June 11 addressed concerns raised by students and parents regarding university placement and fees for various courses.
The MPs highlighted inconsistencies in the University Funding Model and poor communication to learners regarding the tuition fees.
However, the PS responded saying that the process of determining household contribution would begin on June 15 when the Funding application portal opens, and that communication would be made on July 31.
Also Read: Govt Lists Universities Allowed to Offer Law in 2024
In addition, the then Ezekiel Machogu-led ministry explained that that the admission letters were showing the entire payable school fees instead of what each student is expected to pay.
Directive by MPs
The National Assembly Committee went ahead to direct the Ministry to order the withdrawal of all university admission letters.
The Ministry was urged to direct all universities to recall the admission letters which had already been issued after alleged anomalies in the fees students were required to pay.
Following the directive, the government announced that it would recall all admission letters issued by universities to first-year students set to join the 2024 intake.
According to the PS, the decision to recall the letters was made to amend the amounts displayed on the calling letters to ensure fee amounts were allocated based on the set classifications.
Follow our WhatsApp Channel for real-time news updates!