The Kenya University Students’ Organisation (KUSO) has called on president William Ruto to discredit the recommendations made by the presidential working party on education, which recommended a threefold increase in University tuition fees from the current Ksh.16,000 to Ksh.52,000 per semester.
Speaking in Kisumu on Tuesday, the KUSO Nyanza chapter secretariat disregarded the report that was handed to the president last week, arguing that it was none inclusive and out of touch with the current financial reality of university students.
KUSO Nyanza coordinator Hannington Oguk pointed out the disconnect between the recommendation and the Higher Education loan issued to students, which stands at an average of 15,000 per semester for each student. He said the current amount can barely sustain the students’ needs with the current subsidised fees.
Oguk advised the government to consider increasing capitation to universities and funding work-study programs to enable students from humble backgrounds to earn money during their period of study in universities.
On his part, Maseno University students’ Union president Victor Omollo asked the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) to consider revision of the loans issued to students, due to the high inflation that has led to a steep increase in the cost of living.
Other recommendations captured in the education task force report include the increase of enrolment of students in teachers training colleges that currently stands at 3,922 students across 34 institutions countrywide, against a capacity of 26,650 students.
Additionally, the task force wants the government to expand the space for Technical and Vocational Training by establishing such institutes across the country, with a National Polytechnic in every county, Technical Vocational College in every constituency and a Vocational Training Centre in each ward.
