A Cloud of Uncertainty over University Fees in Kenya
The government has left students, parents, and taxpayers in the dark about the true cost of a university education under its new funding model.
Despite quietly lowering initial estimates by up to 40%, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba and Principal Secretary Beatrice Inyangala have refused to disclose the total cost of degree programs. Instead, they have told people to check individual university portals for their specific tuition amounts, creating widespread confusion.
Key Takeaways:
- No Transparency: The Ministry of Education has avoided publicly explaining how much university programs actually cost.
- The Old Model is Gone: The government has scrapped the six financial bands introduced in 2023, but it hasn’t explained the new criteria for classifying students and allocating state support. The CS simply stated that fees will reflect a student’s financial status without providing details on how that will be determined.
- Students Face Obstacles: The lack of clarity is causing significant stress for students, many of whom are struggling to register for the new academic year because universities are demanding full payment upfront.
- Taxpayers are in the Dark: With billions of shillings in education funds being allocated, the public has no insight into how the money is being spent.
- University Costs Vary: According to Vice Chancellors Committee chairman Daniel Mugendi, the cost of a program is determined by factors like staff salaries, facilities, research, and class size. Highly technical courses, such as medicine and engineering, are significantly more expensive than humanities due to the high cost of equipment and facilities.
In essence, the government has created a new system that is less transparent, leaving many people feeling uneasy and uncertain about the future of university education in Kenya.