Members of Parliament (MPs) have questioned the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) over several issues raised in a Special Audit Report.
The MPs drawn from Public Investments Committee on Education and Governance of the National Assembly on Wednesday June 4, grilled the KUCCPS boss about the decision to sponsor students in private universities, when public universities reportedly have enough capacity to admit all qualifying candidates.
The committee chaired by Kilome MP Thuddeus Nzambia pressed KUCCPS led by CEO Agnes Wahome, to explain why public funds were directed to private institutions without a clear policy.
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“We must ask tough questions when taxpayers’ money is used to support private universities while public ones remain underutilized,” Nzambia said during the session.
The law makers further questioned the transparency and accountability of the placement process, and requested a breakdown of student placements by institution, capacity declarations from private universities, and systems for monitoring students after placement.
Wahome explained that KUCCPS had developed a digital platform and policy guidelines to help track student enrollment and placement. However, the committee insisted on receiving documented evidence.
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Additionally, MPs proposed reforms to give students more freedom to choose their preferred courses, rather than having them assigned by placement authorities.
By Brian Ndigo
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