Thousands of students who apply to join Kenya Medical Training College (KTMC) fail to report due to lack of funding, Kenya Medical Training College CEO Kelly Oluoch has said.
Oluoch revealed that 34 percent of students called to KMTC are unable to join, with 27 percent of students who enroll discontinuing learning due to funding constraints.
Appearing before a joint Health and Education Committee on Thursday, April 22, he pointed out that currently, the college is struggling with Sh1.5 billion of unpaid fees from its students.
“Most of our learners are unable to join the college even after successfully being placed. This continues to add to the growing list of those dropping along the way,” he said.
The CEO further said although hospitals are strained with fewer human resources, this can be averted by financing students who wish to pursue the course.
“We request funding to KMTC for equity, equality, and non-discrimination, according to Article 27 of the constitution. Annual KMTC fees is Sh84,000- an amount many students cannot afford.”
According to Oluoch, although the institution received Sh1.23 billion from the Ministry of Health, the funds are insufficient to support the education of vulnerable students.
“We appreciate that it has supported many students, but we need more funding. Allocation of funds should be available in a timely manner to avoid interrupted learning,” he added.
Health Committee Vice Chair Patrick Munene said with the high cost fees, the institutions will remain a pipe dream for students aspiring to take courses at KMTC.
“Medical training has many applicants to KMTC but the institution is a preserve for students from able families that can raise that amount for fees,” he said.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba on his part noted that all students who qualify for higher institutions need to be funded. However, underfunding continues affecting the sector.
“It is not that HELB has refused to fund KMTC. The issue is that resources have not been allocated. We need an alignment so that we can have the funding board dealing with all tertiary institutions,” said Ogamba.
The CS said that the government is collapsing all funding bodies so that all learners can access funds from a central place.
“The policy is that we need to ensure that all eligible learners access funding depending on their needs. In the current financial year, we have a shortfall of Sh45 billion,” he added.
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By Mike Kihaki