Below is an expose' of the Kenya Coast National Polytechnic or Mombasa Technical Training Institute. Greetings Bw. Nyakundi and team.
Thanks for fighting for wanyonge.
Now last week, students were being admitted to most of the national polytechnics. With the Ministry of Education having standardised tuition fees to Kshs. 56,420 in all public national polytechnics, the students expected a smooth admission process. And with those admitted via Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS), the expected fees was expected to be Kshs. 26,420/- after government capitation of Kshs. 30,000/- (applicable to all TVET courses in national polytechnics and approved public technical training institutes).
To the surprise of many, the fees at Kenya Coast Polytechnic is different from those at Kisii, Kitale, Meru and Kabete (among other polytechnics). Their fee structure is as follows: Tuition Fees Kshs. 56,420/- per annum (same as other institutions) Student ID Kshs. 550/- (similar to what's charged elsewhere) Registration Kshs. 200/- (similar to what's charged elsewhere) Caution Money Kshs. 500/- (similar to what's charged elsewhere) Student Council Kshs. 200/- per term (others charge per annum, but not a big deal) KCNP t/shirt Kshs. 700/- (not charged by any other institution, but not a big deal) Development Fund Kshs. 5,000/- charged once. (Only charged at KCNP. Why is this here when the government is committed to improving infrastructure of ALL TVET Centers?). Isn't this charge illegal? Examination fees Kshs. 2,000/- to 6,570/- charged per term. (This is also a very curious amount. Why would INTERNAL exams cost more than external exams? And why would the exam fees be that high when other institutions have already included it in the tuition fees?) Educational Tour shs. 3,000 per term, and not in all courses. (This is also unique to KCNP. Why should students pay this when there is already a budget of Kshs. 1,000 in local transport/travel and activity fees of Kshs. 1150 per term?) Something is amiss in all these.
Further, government sponsored students- those admitted via KUCCPS- were not told about the capitation of Kshs. 30,000 per student, per year, and rather the information availed was that KUCCPS is just a placement agency, it does not help one pay less fees. Why is this so while all other national polytechnics differentiate between government sponsored and self- sponsored?
I would appreciate if this is highlighted to reach the top Ministry of Education officials, so that their plans to have students from poor background access quality TVET training is achieved.
Sincerely,
Concerned student