UoN revises fees for medical students after talks with KMPDU
Following lengthy negotiations with the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU), the University of Nairobi (UoN) has altered the cost structure for its Master of Medicine (MMed) programs.
The institution requested a price increase in 2021, but KMPDU filed a lawsuit to dispute it as being too “dramatic and unjustifiable,” as well as missing stakeholder engagement and public participation.
The union contended that the hike would deprive many young Kenyan doctors access to quality education, instead affecting program continuity and completion rates.
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According to a new agreement obtained by Citizen Digital on Tuesday, UoN and KMPDU agreed that the costs will be gradually increased in a systematic manner.
“Fees will be increased by 14.4% from Ksh.216,000 to Ksh.247,000 for students who joined UoN in the 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 academic years, payable across all programs throughout all years of study,” according to the agreement.
“For students starting at UoN in the 2023/2024 academic year, fees will be raised by 60% from Ksh.216, 000 to Ksh.345,000 for the first year.” Furthermore, the fees will be reduced by 13% from Ksh.345,000 in part one to Ksh.300,000 in part two.”
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“Accordingly, the cost of three (3) year programs will be Ksh.945,000, increasing progressively to Ksh.1, 890,000 for six (6) year programs,” it continued.
The institution and the doctors’ union also agreed that the Clinical Department will hire selected senior students as part-time lecturers and faculty personnel on a rotating basis at a fee of Ksh.4,000 per hour.
“With effect from the 2023/2024 academic year, the Departments will undertake Curriculum Revision to provide for Academic Recess.” “Under this arrangement, each student will be granted two months of academic leave in the form of elective terms each year on a rotational basis,” the agreement states.
“Such leave could be taken in a hospital, which, while private, could earn the students credit.” Such optional term shall be overseen by a certified consultant, and a diary of activities shall be kept for evaluation reasons.”
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Furthermore, it was agreed that, beginning with the 2024/2025 academic year, the school will involve all key stakeholders in the fee revision process.
KMPDU, Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), and the Ministries of Health and Education are among them.
“In such cases, the adjusted fees shall apply only to new students.” The agreement stated that “continuing students shall continue to pay the fees with which they were admitted.”
UoN revises fees for medical students after talks with KMPDU
