Universities Instructed to Maintain Last Year’s Fees as Placement Process Begins
Parents of candidates who sat last year’s KCSE exam will not face increased fees for their children’s university and college education, as universities and colleges are instructed to maintain last year’s fee structure.
This directive comes as the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) initiates applications for courses for the 899,453 students who qualified for degrees and diploma courses following the 2023 KCSE.
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The Universities Fund (UF) and senior Ministry of Education officials are tasked with scrutinizing the declared courses and costs to identify any institutions that may have raised their fees. Vice-chancellors have been cautioned about potential penalties for disregarding directives against fee hikes.
This year’s admissions will be the second cohort under the new funding model, where universities can set individual program fees but cannot alter them for enrolled students during their studies.
KUCCPS Chief Executive Officer Mercy Wahome announced the opening of the online application portal, targeting last year’s candidates and school leavers from the past 12 years for non-degree courses. Dr. Wahome specified that the portal facilitates placements for various courses, including degree, diploma, certificate, craft, and artisan programs.
A total of 201,073 learners qualified for degree programs across the country, while 694,231 are competing for diploma and certificate placements in TVET institutions, Teachers Training Colleges (TTCs), and Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) campuses. Sixty-nine universities, three secondary TTCs, 226 public TVET colleges, and 86 KMTC campuses have declared vacancies.
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Last year’s most expensive degree courses included Medicine, Dental Surgery, Pharmacy, and Engineering. For instance, students entering Medicine and Dental Surgery programs this September may face fees as high as Sh600,000, depending on their chosen university.
Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu urged all KCSE graduates from the past 13 years to seize the placement opportunity. He called for a mobilization campaign to ensure all Form 4 leavers apply for courses to prevent anyone from being left behind.
Machogu emphasized a collective effort among state agencies to achieve a 100 percent transition from secondary to higher education. He instructed KUCCPS to collaborate with various entities, including the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB), the Universities Fund, and other partners, to assist as many Form Four leavers as possible in submitting their applications.
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Following the placement process, the Universities Fund and Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) will open their portals for students to apply for scholarships and loans, ensuring government funding opportunities for all eligible students.
Universities Instructed to Maintain Last Year’s Fees as Placement Process Begins
