Babu Owino, Omtatah Demand Free Secondary Education After University Fee Abolishment
Embakasi East Constituency Member of Parliament has called for the implementation of free secondary education.
Babu Owino stated on Sunday, via his official X account, that the cancellation of school fees for first-year students placed in universities by Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) was insufficient.
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) lawmaker also requested an increase in the allocation of Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) loans to university students.
“This is not enough. We want free secondary school education, and HELB to be increased for comrades,” Babu Owino stated in a statement shared via his X account.
Babu Owino’s statement comes a day after the government, through the Ministry of Education, cancelled fees for first-year students placed in universities by KUCCPS.
In a statement dated July 19, 2024, Education Principal Secretary Beatrice Inyangala stated that a new fee structure will be implemented beginning August 5, 2024.
She advised parents and guardians to disregard previous communications from the institutions.
“The Ministry of Education wishes to inform the public, particularly parents and guardians of students that the fees to be paid by students and their families as relates to the full cost of each degree programme as previously communicated in the admission letters is hereby nullified and does not apply anymore,” the statement reads in part.
Kindly note pic.twitter.com/5QvV4rjajc
— Dr Beatrice Muganda Inyangala (@Bettymuganda17) July 20, 2024
KUCCPS enrolled the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) 2023 cohort in a variety of degree programmes.
However, there are concerns that thousands of students who are scheduled to start university in September will miss out on government funding.
Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah expressed concern on Saturday, July 20, 2024, about the impact of President William Ruto’s administration’s new funding model for universities and colleges.
According to the lawmaker, the model has shifted the burden of higher education to parents who are already struggling to meet their basic needs.
Omtatah revealed that he has received messages from students who are considering dropping out or deferring their studies due to the country’s high education costs.
A number of comrades have reached out decrying the now high fees charged by universities compounded by the high cost of accommodation and upkeep. It's important for education to be accessible to all who want to pursue it.
— Okiya Omtatah Okoiti (@OkiyaOmtatah) July 20, 2024
The new funding model for Universities and Colleges was…
“A number of comrades have reached out decrying the now high fees charged by universities compounded by the high cost of accommodation and upkeep,” Omtatah said in a statement.
“It’s important for education to be accessible to all who want to pursue it.”
President Ruto unveiled the New Higher Education Funding Model on May 3, 2023, to address the challenges faced by public universities and Technical and Vocational Education (TVET) institutions.
Babu Owino, Omtatah Demand Free Secondary Education After University Fee Abolishment
