Education and Training (TVET) stakeholders and tutors raised alarms as annual fees reportedly spiked to Ksh 105,000, up from the previous Ksh 67,000.
Tutors noted that while the government previously subsidized a significant portion of the fees, the New Higher Education Funding Model shifted more of the financial burden onto households through a mix of loans and household contributions.
Principals and tutors warned that the sharp increase would lead to massive student dropouts, as many TVET students come from vulnerable backgrounds and cannot raise the required Ksh 40,000+ household balance.
There has been a reported dip in new admissions, as prospective students are deterred by the high cost of specialized courses in engineering and medical sciences.
The Ministry of Education has argued that the model is more “equitable,” categorizing students into five bands based on their financial capability.
Students are encouraged to apply for funding through the Higher Education Financing (HEF) portal to access scholarships and loans that can cover up to 95% of the costs for the neediest cases.
The Kenya Association of Technical Training Institutions (KATTI) has expressed concerns that the high costs undermine the government’s own goal of boosting industrialization through technical skills.
The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) and opposition leaders have criticized the “commercialization” of TVETs, which were originally intended to be affordable alternatives to universities.
By Anthony Solly
