The Member of Parliament for Ugunja Hon. Opiyo Wandayi who also doubles as the leader of minority in the National Assembly wants the government to stop implementing the new higher education funding model.
He termed it an increased burden to the already heavily taxed Kenyans.
In a statement released on Tuesday, August 8 and seen by Education News, the MP says the government should instead improve on the tried and tested models.
“That the Kenya Kwanza Government halts forthwith the new Funding Model and improves on the tried tested models that support youths of this country to access the all-important university/college education,” he says in a statement.
Wandayi also wants the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) to open its portal and allow 600,000 students who missed slots in institutions of higher learning to apply for placement.
According to data from KUCCPS, about 68 per cent of last year’s Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) candidates did not apply for courses citing the high cost of application and lack of information on how to go about the whole process.
He said the aftermath of this policy by the Kenya Kwanza government will be jobless graduates chocking in loans whose interest rates have not been disclosed.
“Worst still, we shall have thousands of college drop-outs from the high cost of acquiring a university education.” He said
On July 31, the government launched the new model which is scheduled to take effect in September 2023 dubbed ‘New Higher Education Funding’ (NHEF).
This is for both scholarships and loans for students placed by Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS).
By Vostine Ratemo
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