By Roy Hezron
The Ministry of Education has urged all universities to respect government policies relating to fees and to admit all students who were placed by the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement service (KUCCPS).
Speaking to Education News after officiating the opening of the Education Hungary Fair in Nairobi on October 29, 2021, Principal Secretary, State Department for University Education and Research Amb. Simon Nabukwesi said that the government is encouraging access, equity and quality education for all for purposes of development in the country hence no university should increase school fees.
‘I know there are financial constraints among universities but as a ministry, we will maintain our position that there should be no fee increments. We have communicated the same to the universities. They should respect the government’s policy in relation to fees and handling of students,” said Amb. Nabukwesi.
He went on to say that the ministry had communicated to all universities in the country asking them to ensure all those students who were placed by KUCCPS to study their respective courses as per their qualifications are admitted in universities as soon as possible.
Amb. Nabukwesi’s sentiments came after the High Court scuttled plans to increase fees for over 500,000 students in public universities countrywide and declared the new formula adopted by universities to determine how much students pursuing certain courses should pay unconstitutional.
Justice Anthony Mrima found that the criterion was in violation of the Constitution for lack of adequate public participation.
The Kenya Medical Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) had challenged the introduction of new fees by the University of Nairobi, which was to take effect in August this year when first year students reported.
The union sought to bar the institution and the Universities Funding Board (UFB) from effecting new fees based on the new Differentiated Unit Cost (DUC).
Amb. Nabukwesi thanked the Hungarian government for increasing the number of scholarships awarded to students in Kenya to study in Hungary and urged the students to take the opportunity to study abroad.
The Hungarian government awarded 100 more scholarship slots to Kenya under the scholarship program, bringing the total number of available slots to 200.
The Hungarian Government has been offering Scholarships for Kenyan students since 2016/2017 academic year under the Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship.
