The government has approved a proposal by vice-chancellors to raise university fees threefold from the current Sh16,000 to Sh48,000.
Appearing before the National Assembly Education Committee on Wednesday, Treasury Principal Secretary Julius Muia said increasing university tuition fees was necessary to keep the institutions afloat.
“Our suggestion is that we increase tuition fee to Sh48,000, then raise bursary allocation for those students not able to raise that amount,” Muia told the committee.
While defending the move, PS Muia indicated that institutions of higher learning are currently experiencing financial woes, adding that hiking fees will help them achieve sustainability.
The current annual fee per government-sponsored student was set 30 years ago when the government paid three-quarters of the total fees of Sh102,000.
But based on the differentiated unit cost (DUC) calculated in 2017, the cost of a degree program in Kenyan universities has climbed to about Sh250,000 yet students still pay the same amount they paid in 1989, vice-chancellors argue.
Speaking before the committee, public universities vice-chancellor’s committee chair Geoffrey Maluvi said: “With the current average unit cost per student being Sh254,644, simply taking the current tuition fee of Sh16,000 against the nominal figure of Sh86,000 on a proportional basis to the current average unit cost, we have agreed that the student would have to pay an average figure of Sh47,376, which could theoretically be passed at Ksh48,000.”
To ensure students do not struggle to pay the new fees rates, vice-chancellors have suggested that the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) increases student loans to a minimum of Sh68,000.
The plan to increase varsity fees has sparked protests from both students and parents.
Yes the cost might have gone…
Yes the cost might have gone up,but not the value of what they are paying for.
Tripping cost of anything into thousands all of a suddenly is a shocker,much less on people who don’t work.
Why don’t they slash these high salries and benefits Mpigs get for less they do?
The colleges are not…
The colleges are not struggling because the fees are too low. Education is society investing in it’s future. Make all education free.
This is one method the poop…
This is one method the poop govt will raise money to pay the BBI luxurious(PM & 100 women/service MPs).I mourn to be a Kenyan as the same Kenyans are being used by hyenas led by Uhuru to freeze them.I wonder whether the four million BBI signatories know that they will finance this extra load with no benefits.Where will Kenyas Garry Lawrings come from?
REVOLUTION is key.
THE poor…
REVOLUTION is key.
THE poor common mwanainchi will bear all the burden, while singing praise to the leaders.
But they shouldn’t complain either because they hold the key.
TIME TO SAY THAT ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
IT TIME TO GET SICK OF BEING SICK AND TIRED.
REVOLUTION.