University admission: Parents to have say where to enroll learners

Higher Education Loans Board CEO Charles Ringera, PS University Education Beatrice Iyangala and Education CS Ezekiel Machogu when they appeared before the Public Investments Committee on Governance and Education at the Parliament chambers,Nairobi .May 3, 2023. [Elvis Ogina, Standard] Parents will decide universities and colleges where their children will be enrolled after the placement process is complete. Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu has also suspended any new projects in public universities until stalled ones are completed and put in use. Speaking when he appeared before the Public Investments Committee on Governance and Education in Nairobi, yesterday, Mr Machogu said that all the 173,000 students who scored a mean grade of C+ and above will get admission to public universities. However, the CS clarified that the parents will decide whether they will take the children to public universities or not. The parents will have an option of weighing the facilities, courses and cost implications before making the decision. The government decision has however elicited excitement among smaller institutions and private universities with insiders arguing that the new formula will trigger competitiveness. They argued that with courses and costs revealed, parents will decide where they wish to enroll their children, in case they are unsure of scholarships. Machogu said before sending money to universities, the government will have calculated and known the percentages of each category and parents will have a final say. "As far as I am concerned we will ensure all our students are placed in public universities unless the parent decides otherwise," the CS said. Mr Machogu was responding to the committee chairman Jack Wamboka who said public universities have enough capacity and there was no need to place students in private universities. "From the figures we have, the capacity in public universities stands at 194,000. The students who merit university entry cut off are 173,000," Mr Wamboka said. On Monday, President William Ruto unveiled a new plan of funding students in universities. The new model will establish the needs of different households and fund them appropriately. The Head of State noted that moving forward, there would be four categories of funding students. Learners from vulnerable families that comprise those without any income, total orphans and those of income below Sh23,000 will get full sponsorship and loans without the household paying anything. Those less vulnerable or average will get 59 per cent of total cost through scholarships while they will access a 34 per cent loan and the families will contribute 7 per cent. The public universities will declare their capacities, courses and the costs online while KUCCPS will publish and open the portal for students to decide where to seek admission. Wamboka said the Vice Chancellors had indicated that all public universities and their constituent colleges have enough capacity to handle the students. "The VCs have expressed concern that public universities have been experiencing shortfalls in admission and placement despite the institutions having enough capacity," he said. Higher Education Principal Secretary Beatrice Inyangala said the University Fund Board has been progressively building its capacity to fully actualize its mandate.

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