Education ministry nullifies first year fee structure for 2023 KCSE students

The Ministry of Education has nullified fees for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) 2023 cohort of students that were set to join universities in September.

In a statement issued on Friday, Higher Education and Research Principal Secretary Dr. Beatrice Inyangala said that a new fee structure would be communicated to parents beginning August 5, 2024.

She assured parents that their children’s placements in the respective academic programmes were firmly secured.

“The Ministry of Education wishes to inform the public, particularly parents/guardians of students, and, students that the fees to be paid by students and their families/guardians as relates to the full cost of each degree programme as previously communicated in the admission letters is hereby nullified, and, does not apply any more,” stated the PS.

“Beginning the 5th day of August 2024, the respective universities will communicate the new fees to be paid by each student as household contribution.”

Dr. Inyangala added: “It is also important for the students and their parents/guardians to note that their placement in the respective academic programmes remains unchanged.”

Since May 2023, all universities have been required to reveal the cost of degree academic programmes on the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) website as directed by President William Ruto. 

This, according to the President, would enhance transparency and accountability, making it easy for parents and students to decide on the courses that suite them. 

This also worked hand-in-hand with the new university funding model announced by Ruto which divided students seeking funds into four categories; vulnerable, extremely needy, needy, and less needy.

Students from the vulnerable and extremely needy households would receive 100 per cent funding, while the needy and less needy would get 93 per cent scholarship. 

In the new model, the government also stopped funding students who qualified for public universities but opted to join private ones. However, they are only eligible to apply for the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB).