In a heated session on Tuesday, the Commission on University Education (CUE) faced tough scrutiny from a parliamentary committee over the criteria used for student placements in universities for the 2024/2025 academic year. The commission’s top management struggled to justify the allocation decisions, especially regarding the placement of students in universities with insufficient staffing capacity.
Appearing before the National Assembly Education Committee alongside Higher Education Principal Secretary Beatrice Muganda, the CUE was questioned about the apparent inconsistencies in their placement strategy. Documents presented to the committee revealed significant disparities in student allocations among various universities.
Kisii University emerged as the institution with the highest allocation, receiving 16,000 students. This starkly contrasted with allocations to other major institutions such as the University of Nairobi and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, which were allocated 8,604 and 8,903 students respectively. Other notable allocations included Maseno University with 10,821 students, Kenyatta University with 10,211, and Karatina University with 9,180 students.
The committee expressed concerns over the CUE’s decision to allocate large numbers of students to universities that reportedly lack the necessary staffing and infrastructure to handle such volumes. This raised questions about the potential impact on the quality of education and the overall student experience.
Smaller allocations were seen in institutions like Kenyatta University-Mama Ngina University College with 1,174 students, Alupe University with 1,420, and Koitalel Samoei University College with 1,646. These figures further highlighted the inconsistencies in the allocation process.
In the realm of private institutions, Mount Kenya University topped the list with 6,103 student placements, followed by KCA University with 5,911, Zetech University with 4,140, Daystar University with 3,746, and Kabarak University with 3,430. Conversely, Riara University received the lowest allocation among private universities with 126 students, while other institutions like International Leadership University and Uzima University were allocated 300 and 340 students respectively.
This session underscored the need for a more transparent and equitable placement process. The committee’s inquiry highlighted significant concerns about the adequacy of the current system and the necessity for reforms to ensure that student placements are aligned with the capacity and resources of each institution.
The ongoing debate over university placements is set to continue, with stakeholders calling for a thorough review of the CUE’s policies and practices. The ultimate goal remains to ensure that higher education in Kenya is both accessible and of high quality, meeting the needs of all students and institutions alike.
