Universities Admission Dilemma as Funding Uncertainty Delays Selection of Over 880,000 students
There is growing anxiety over the admission of more than 880,000 students who sat last year’s Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exam to universities and colleges.
Sources reveal that uncertainty over the amount of money available to sponsor students in public institutions could have delayed the selection process.
Officials are considering whether to raise university cut-off points or increase tuition fees. Managers of universities and colleges are also worried that a continued delay of courses revision may affect their learning timetables.
Parents are also anxious over fake placement posters and messages indicating that the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) portal has been opened to allow their children to revise courses.
Vice chancellors and college principals have expressed their concerns about the delayed opening of the KUCCPS portal, as it could be costly.
Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu is expected to open the first Biennial Kenya Universities Funding Conference under the theme Universities for Sustainable Future.
The meeting will bring together top ministry and industry players. KUCCPS Chief Executive Mercy Wahome said they need about two and a half months to complete this process for students to make choices.
During the release of last year’s KCSE examination results, Machogu directed KUCCPS to quickly roll out the placement process.
KUCCPS has already received candidates’ results from the Kenya National Examinations Council, and the universities and colleges’ capacities have been validated by regulators.
The Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms last week proposed an increase of university fees from Sh16,000, a matter that also insiders said the President was slow to adopt.
Calculations by The Standard reveal that for university education alone, the government will require about Sh30 billion if all the qualified students secured admission.
The government allocates Sh140,000 to each university student per academic year to cater for tuition. This translates to Sh24.3 billion per year for all the 173,345 students.
Higher Education Loans Board (Helb) Chief Executive Charles Ringera last week told MPs that the agency has a funding gap of Sh5.7 billion that would affect more than 140,000 students.
If the 100% transition policy is enforced at this level, more billions would be needed to support 672,841 students who scored grade C and D.
The government spends Sh30,000 on each Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) student annually towards capitation. Together with upkeep money sent to students, the total amount Helb requires to fund each TVET student is about Sh40,000 per year.
The average TVET fees are Sh56,000. Yesterday, Ringera said Helb cannot provide any data on funding projections, stating that “things will be clearer after the task force turns in their final report”.
Universities Admission Dilemma as Funding Uncertainty Delays Selection of Over 880,000 students