Pre-varsity students censure KUCCPS on ID rule
Pre-varsity students censure KUCCPS on ID rule
Pre-varsity students censure KUCCPS on ID rule
Concerns have been expressed by incoming college students about the need for a national identity card in order to use the Kenyan university placement system.
The more than 500 students demanded an improved portal while participating in a sensitization workshop held in Kisii by the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS).
Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu had directed universities and funding agencies to immediately embark on sensitisation of students, parents, and stakeholders on the student-centered funding model. Faith Nyakerario will be joining Kabianga University to pursue a Bachelor of Education degree. She says there has been a delay in issuing national identity cards.
She said: “I applied for an ID in January but there is no word on when I will get the document. One can’t apply for a Helb loan without an ID.”
Jessica Moraa is set to join Masinde Muliro University but says her attempts to file for an inter-university transfer have not been successful.
“I hope we will get clarity on the processes. I have made several attempts to have a transfer, all in vain,” she said.
The organiser of the sensitisation programme, Dr Samuel Siringi, said students had raised concerns about inter-university transfers, Higher Education Loans Board (Helb) and the University Fund Board.
“Universities have issued admission letters to respective students, they will have apply for funding from the University Fundi Board and Helb. Each detailed submission will be considered,” Siringi said.
Siringi stated that the funding approach has been made clear.
“We ask parents to please exercise patience as they wait for the University Fund Board to determine how much each parent will have to pay.”
On June 7, Machogu said that some parents believed they would have to pay the entire amount due as specified in the admissions letters that colleges provided to prospective students.
“Fees for each degree programme will be funded through three components; scholarship, loan, and parents (household) contribution. The funding allocation for each component will depend on the assessed level of need of each applicant,” said the Cabinet Secretary.
Machogu clarified that parents’ contribution will only be known after the student has applied for funding and assessment based on the level of need is completed. This will thereafter determine the amount of scholarship and loan that they require.
“Upon results of the funding applications being released, universities shall notify all their respective First-Year students of the amount to be paid by parents,” he said.
The Student-Centered Funding Model will provide financial support to the second batch of students enrolling in institutions this year.
Among the 201,146 candidates who met the requirements for university admission in the 2003 KCSE, KUCCPS placed 153, 274 students in a range of university degree programs.
