Kenya’s National Assembly Education Committee, chaired by Julius Melly, has proposed that the government discontinue the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) program of placing government-sponsored students at private universities.
This proposal aims to aid public universities in debt, as private universities have been receiving substantial funding from the government since 2017, yet no audit has been conducted to determine how the funds were utilized.
The committee recommends that KUCCPS place all government-sponsored students in public universities as private universities charge an average of Ksh100,000 per semester compared to public universities, which charge approximately Ksh16,000.
Although the government will continue sponsoring students who are already enrolled in the program, it will not provide funding to private universities starting in 2022.
Despite this, students who scored C+ in the 2022 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination will still receive university placement through KUCCPS.
However, funding for their education will be determined by merit, level of need, national priorities, and affirmative action.
This decision comes as a significant relief to public universities that have been grappling with financial difficulties resulting from decreased government funding.
The proposal is expected to assist the government in better managing the education sector and providing quality education to Kenyan students at a lower cost.
