Public universities and their constituent colleges have now dismissed claims that they have sent First Year students back home over non-payment of fees.
Similarly, the Vice Chancellors have clarified that no First Year student has been asked for tuition fees as they report to their respective colleges as placed by Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS).
The Vice Chancellors Committee Chairperson, Prof Daniel Mugendi explained on Friday that universities are waiting for the categorization of students under the new funding model and have not asked for fees from the first year learners.
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"Pursuant to the meeting held today (September 8) at the University of Nairobi, it was resolved that we address issues concerning the current status of students admitted into public universities under the new funding model contrary to what was reported in the media. We can confirm that public universities are currently admitting First Year students as placed by KUCCPS," said Prof Mugendi.
For instance, he said Kenyatta University has already admitted 7,752 students out of the 7,979 placed, Kisii University has received 7,160 out of the 8,670, Moi has 4,103 out of 5,480 admitted while Maseno will start receiving students on September 11.
According to the Vice Chancellor's committee, public universities are also reaching out to parents to ensure admission of First Year students attains 100 per cent transition.
"First Years are not required to pay any tuition fee under the new funding model until higher education fund comprising Universities Fund and Higher Education Loans Board finalize categorization of students," he said.
"No public university has demanded payment of tuition fees, no student has been turned away for non-payment of tuition fees in any public of the universities."
For public universities with available on-campus stay, Mugendi said students are only being requested to pay for accommodation costs.
"We are urging all stakeholders to lend their support and understanding, as public universities confirm that they are implementing and are fully compliant with the new funding model and policy. We will ensure no student is disadvantaged when they join public universities," he affirmed.
The funding model categorizes students into four namely vulnerable, most needy, needy and less needy.
He said the vulnerable and most needy will study for free and HELB will give them a loan to take care of their accommodation and upkeep.
"For the students coming now, we are not asking them to pay any tuition fees because we do not know how they will be categorized until that is done and we will know who will belong where," he added.
Fees structure
Similarly, Prof Mugendi, who is the University of Embu Vice Chancellor said that public universities are not charging any administrative charges.
He said the amount they declared as tuition fees is inclusive of all other charges that universities used to charge previously.
This, he said, means the First Year students will not be charged library, internet, computer or registration fees.
These charges will however be effected for continuing students because they are following the old Differentiated Unit Cost (DUC) model.
"For first years, the figure we gave stands, there will be no more charges," he explained.
He also dismissed claims that parents are being directed to pay 7 per cent of fees before bringing their students for admission.
"You are free to pay the 7 per cent if you know you are not from the two categories (vulnerable and most needy) but there is no university demanding for any money until categorization is done and we will be able to know the students to pay the 7 per cent accordingly…for now we cannot tell," said Mugendi.
"If there is any parent who has paid that money out of own will, when the categorization is done and maybe they will not be required to pay then the university will refund.There is no university requesting any amount for now until the categorization is done."
He said that universities are ready to stay with the students for a month or even longer and make sure they access learning and other services even before the institutions receive any funding.
"That is already a big support. You can imagine keeping all those students for almost a month with no money from the funding board and they must go to class and be taught. The universities are making a big sacrifice towards that. Then the parents should see how to support with accommodation and upkeep before categorization," he added.
On Wednesday, the Ministry of Education extended the loan and scholarship application deadline from September 7 to October 7 to allow all students who qualify to apply.
As of September 5, a total of 156,532 out of the 265,000 students who qualified for university and college funding in 2022 KCSE had applied for funding.
However, 40 per cent of the students were yet to apply which led to the extension by a month to give them time to do so.
Universities Fund and HELB are expected to ensure that the processing and disbursement exercise is conducted on a continuing basis.
