Pre-varsity students censure KUCCPS on ID rule

Students set to join universities have raised concerns over the requirement to have a national identity card to access the Kenya  universities placement portal.

While attending a sensitisation programme in Kisii conducted by the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS), the more than 500 students called for an enhanced portal.

They said the current portal takes time to open forcing them to spend a lot of money in cybercafes.

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 said that they had put out clarity on the funding model.

“Our urge is on parents that they should be patient and await the results from the University Fund Board on the amount each parent will be required to pay.”

Machogu had on June 7 stated that some parents have had a perception that they will be forced to pay full fees as indicated in admission letters sent to out to students through universities.

“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.

This year, the second cohort of students joining universities will also receive financial support under the Student-Centered Funding Model.

Out of the 201,146 candidates who qualified for University entry in 2003 KCSE, 153, 274 students have been placed by KUCCPS in various degree programmes in universities.