In a recent announcement, the Principal Secretary for Higher Education, Dr. Beatrice Muganda Inyangala, revealed significant changes aimed at making university education more accessible. This move comes in response to concerns from Members of Parliament (MPs) regarding the discouragingly high fee figures previously communicated to prospective students.

Dr. Inyangala explained that the revised approach will allow universities to indicate the expected fees at the household level, excluding government funding contributions. This decision follows criticisms that the previous fee disclosure method included the total course costs, which many students and their families found daunting.

The changes were prompted during a session of the Ministry of Education before the National Assembly's Education Committee. MPs criticized the Ministry for issuing letters with exorbitant fee amounts, which they claimed deterred students from enrolling in university courses. Brenda Wanga of Citizen TV reported on the Ministry's commitment to review the criteria used for determining financial aid for students.

During the session, the Ministry was questioned about various issues, including the placement of students in higher learning institutions and their funding. One significant concern raised was the imbalance caused by students favoring Kenya Medical Training College programs over university courses. The MPs urged the Ministry to address this trend to ensure a more balanced distribution of applications across different fields.

The new funding model for higher education, which prioritizes students' financial needs and separates placement from funding, was also scrutinized. Legislators questioned the efficacy of this model, noting that it may have been implemented hastily. They highlighted that many students from modest backgrounds, such as those of peace workers and farmers, have found the previous differentiated unit cost (DUC) model more favorable.

Under the current model, universities issue admission letters outlining the entire course cost, which MPs argue has led to students dropping out or choosing courses based on affordability rather than qualification. One MP highlighted that around 47,000 students did not avail themselves of university opportunities due to the intimidating fee structures presented in their admission letters.

In response, the MPs have instructed the Ministry to act swiftly. Dr. Inyangala assured that universities would be directed to withdraw the current admission letters and issue new ones reflecting the household-level fees before the students report in September. This adjustment aims to ensure that students are not deterred by the high costs initially communicated.

The Ministry also expressed concerns over financial constraints, revealing that it has not received the full funding allocated for higher education last year. The government has yet to release Ksh 29 billion of the Ksh 102 billion budgeted, impacting universities and students who rely on scholarships and loans. The delay in disbursements affects students' ability to support themselves during their studies.

In light of these challenges, the Ministry has pledged to review the criteria used to place students into different financial aid bands. This review comes after assessing the performance of the current model over the past year. The Ministry aims to refine the process to better meet the financial needs of students and ensure a fair distribution of financial aid.