Thousands Risk Missing University Courses in Govt's New Plan

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File image of students reporting at a campus for a new intake
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A new proposal championed for by Vice-Chancellors and the Ministry of Treasury is set to affect thousands of students who may miss out on their dream university courses.

VCs want the government to stop funding private universities and instead relocate the money to public schools. 

The government allocates Ksh 9 billion to private universities since 2016 when the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service was ordered to start placing government students in the private institutions. 

The VCs also want KUCCPS to only admit government-sponsored students to private universities to pursue programmes that are not available in public institutions.

Students outside Maseno University gate.
Students outside Maseno University gate.
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Maseno University

“Let it be clear that we are opposed to placing students in private universities,” Vice-Chancellors Committee chair Geoffrey Muluvi stated while addressing MPs on Wednesday, December 2.

Treasury PS Julius Muia supported the proposal, urging MPs to reconsider the admission of new students to private universities and have the funds redirected to public universities.

Public university Vice-Chancellors lamented that they are languishing in debts and are finding it hard to maintain their payroll. 

KUCPPS acting CEO Agnes Wahome opposed the move. She said that the government was fair and equal to all students and it would be wrong to halt funding of private institutions. 

Kenya Association of Private Universities (Kapu) Chairman Kisau Mumo reiterated the same adding that all students are Kenyan and have an equal right to education. 

The move comes a few days after the VCs pushed for the increment of university fees to raise funds in the institutions. 

They wanted fees to be tripled from Ksh 16,000 to Ksh 48,000. Education CS George Magoha rubbished the move arguing that it would be an injustice to parents. The proposal, however, is still under consideration.

The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) further slashed the average loan offered to university students by Ksh 8,000. HELB CEO, Charles Ringera, said that they had reduced the loans from Ksh 45,000 to Ksh 37,000 due to the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

HELB CEO Charles Ringera.
HELB CEO Charles Ringer addresses students at the Kenyatta University Amphitheater.
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HELB