It is time to increase university fee - Magoha

The newly nominated Cabinet secretary for Education, Prof George Magoha. (File, Standard)

It may not go well with students of higher learning institutions who had anticipated no change in their school fees, after Education Cabinet Secretary nominee George Magoha, backed fee increment for government-sponsored students owing to the changing times.

In a personal opinion he made during a vetting exercise at County Hall, Magoha agreed with the university Vice Chancellors pushing for fee increment, saying that it was necessary in order to meet the increasing expenditure.

Magoha, however, noted that fee increment should be done in consultation with all stakeholders including the students to ensure that the value of the new fee is reasonable and affordable.

Magoha also made his stand clear on the proposed fee of Sh48,000 for government-sponsored students, saying the figure was too high and outrageous.

The immediate Vice Chancellor of the University of Nairobi said that universities need to reorganize their staffs first, to curb unnecessary expenditure, before embarking on the process of determining the rightful figure for fee increment.

University students have in the past protested against any process seeking to have their tuition fees increased, with universities chiefs remaining adamant on the need to have a change on the standard fee due to the changing and growing needs.

The current standard fees stand at around Sh16,000, while the proposed fee by universities managements is around Sh48, 000.

On February 27, 2019, the Kenya Young Parliamentary Association led by Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino opposed any plans to increase the fee, saying it will be unmanageable.

Prof. Magoha will replace Amb. Amina Mohammed, who was moved to Sports Ministry, if the parliament endorses his appointment.