State will not fund diploma, certificate courses in varsities

Wahome explained that the courses will be available on the Kuccps website during selection.

In Summary

•She added that this is not a new policy and that it has been happening in the past years.
•Last week Ruto unveiled a need-based funding model for university students.

KUCCPS CEO Agnes Mercy Wahome speaking when she appeared before the Public Investments Committee on Education and Governance on April 25, 2023.
KUCCPS CEO Agnes Mercy Wahome speaking when she appeared before the Public Investments Committee on Education and Governance on April 25, 2023.
Image: FILE

Students who decide to pursue Technical and Vocational Education and Training (Tvet) courses in universities will not receive government funding.

Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) CEO Agnes Wahome said the category includes diploma and certificate programs which are offered in universities.

“We have some universities that are offering diploma and certificate courses so they have Tvet schools within the university, those will not receive government scholarship,” Wahome said.

She was speaking during an interview on Citizen TV on Tuesday morning.

Wahome explained that the courses will be available on the Kuccps website during selection.

“We also have Tvet institutions under the Ministry of Education which are about 200. These ones students will access both loans and government scholarships,” she said.

She added that this is not a new policy and that it has been happening in the past years.

Last week, President William Ruto unveiled a need-based funding model for university students.

Ruto outlined three categories of students that are less vulnerable, vulnerable and able.

"For the first time, students whose families are at the bottom of the pyramid shall enjoy equal opportunity in accessing university and TVET education. Their households shall not make any contribution towards the education of their children," Ruto said.

The President said the new model of funding will take effect at the beginning of the next financial year.

The model will benefit the new cohort of 173,127 students that will be joining universities and 145,325 students who will be joining TVET institutions.

Meanwhile, the President announced an increase in university education funding to Sh84.6 billion in the 2023/24 financial year, a 56 per cent rise from the current budget.

He said the new funding comprises a Sh53 billion allocation to be factored into the budget and Sh31.6 for HELB loans

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