Varsities to Raise Tuition Fees Under Proposed Reforms as KUCCPS Delays Student Placements
Starting this year, students in public universities in Kenya will pay different tuition fees based on the university they attend. The new model is designed to address the funding crisis faced by higher education institutions in the country.
The Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) will implement the model when it places candidates who completed the 2022 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exam.
Universities will be required to declare their tuition fees for each program in advance so that students can make informed decisions when choosing programs based on the associated costs.
The interim report of the Presidential Working Party on Education Reform is ready, and a final report is expected in about a month’s time. The team has recommended radical changes to higher education funding, including increasing university tuition fees, although the exact amount has not yet been determined.
The government currently funds 48% of the cost of a program, while the student pays the remaining 20%. Under the new plan, the government will provide uniform capitation, and families will be responsible for paying the difference.
This system is designed to address the funding gap created by the fact that the tuition fees paid by students have remained unchanged at KES 16,000 annually for more than 30 years.
The recommendation to introduce variable tuition fees is aligned with the suggestion made by vice-chancellors of public universities to the education reforms team. They suggested that students should pay a minimum of KES 24,000 and a maximum of KES 52,000.
According to the Universities Fund, a bachelor’s degree in dentistry is the most expensive program, costing KES 720,000, while a bachelor of arts degree is the least expensive at KES 144,000. Universities may set their tuition fees higher than the UF data.
The cost of a program is determined by the cost of hiring lecturers, equipment, laboratories, and learning resources. Students pay more for living expenses, such as accommodation and food, depending on the location of the universities.
Students who live in cities like Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, and Nakuru pay more. Additional costs include computer usage, textbooks, and stationery.
To ensure accuracy, the Universities Fund will launch a biometric system for student registration at a cost of KES 48 million. The universities will track student progress, and those who repeat units will be required to pay for them without government support.
Overall, the new variable tuition fee system is designed to address the funding crisis in public universities in Kenya. Students will now pay different amounts depending on the university they attend, and families will be responsible for paying the difference between the government’s uniform capitation and the actual tuition fees.
The cost of academic programs will be determined by the cost of hiring lecturers, equipment, laboratories, and learning resources, among other factors. The biometric system of student registration will ensure accuracy in tracking student progress and financial records.
Varsities to Raise Tuition Fees Under Proposed Reforms as KUCCPS Delays Student Placements