By Our Reporter
Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) is staring at student shortage even as it seeks to establish centres and training campuses in each of the country’s 47 counties.
This will deal the government a big blow in training enough man power to take care of the country’s growing health care needs amid a burgeoning population.
In a letter addressed to all campus principals and seen by Education News, the institution foresees the declining number of students seeking admissions for the September intake.
“As presented by the Admissions Office during the last Academic Board Meeting held on 20th to 22nd June 2018, there is a decrease in applicants to various courses,” the letter dated 25th June states.
Consequently, the college which is a darling to Form Four leavers seeking further studies has devised other ways to shore up the numbers.
“In view of this, you are kindly requested to hold meetings with your Head of Departments (HODs) and ask them to hold meetings with the students in their departments and ask them to communicate to their relatives, friends and the youth in the community who qualify for any of the courses advertised for September 2018,” it further states.
The concerns come at a time when many middle level colleges and institutions of higher learning are grappling with declining number of students seeking admissions.
Besides, KMTC is facing competition from universities and other colleges offering medical courses, which have also been expanding to all parts of the country.
The institution trains 80 per cent of the healthcare workforce in Kenya and presently has 65 campuses across the 47 counties compared to 28 five years ago.
Last year, it admitted 12,000 students, double the usual number in a move aimed at enabling it meet increasing demand for health workers.
In some counties, there are more than two campuses and the number is growing.
In Kisii County for example, the institution will put up another campus at Keumbu.
This will bring the total number of campuses in Kisii County to three. There is one branch in Kisii town and another one at Nyamache.
Last week, KMTC board Chairman Prof Philip Kaloki announced plans to put up a campus in Mukurwe-ini, which will be the third in Nyeri County, on a 10-acre piece of land donated by the county government.
He also signed an agreement with Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru to establish two campuses in the county.
Kaloki said the expansion was necessary to boost the Government agenda to provide universal healthcare.
Declining number of students seeking further studies is increasingly becoming a grey area for middle level colleges and higher institutions of learning.
Public Universities’ Vice Chancellors Committee Chairperson Prof Francis Aduol said recently that only 69,000 students filled the 135,000 slots available university admission for 2018.
Primary Teachers Colleges have for over a year now expressed concern on the declining number of students seeking admissions at the institutions.
