Elgeyo Marakwet county, which borders Uasin Gishu county, has revealed that it too is dealing with a problem around a controversial Finland student airlift scheme. Wisley Rotich, the governor of Elgeyo Marakwet, has established an 11-person task force to look into the Finland Scholarship Program, under which hundreds of county residents studying in Finland now run the risk of being deported if they don't pay their tuition, just like their Uasin Gishu counterparts.
It comes after Tampere University of Applied Sciences said that, as a result of unpaid tuition and lodging costs, the institution had discontinued its collaboration agreement with the counties of Uasin Gishu and Elgeyo Marakwet on March 1.
The university warned students from Elgeyo Marakwet to pay their second semester fees in full by March 31 rather than May 1 to avoid having their studies suspended as a precaution following price payment default by Uasin Gishu County students.
The university requested that the impacted students work with their parents to make sure that their tuition and housing costs are paid by March 31 without the chance of an extension in a letter dated March 7, 2023.
More than 200 Elgeyo Marakwet students are now enrolled in nursing and applied science programs at several universities in Finland. As part of the program, students work while they are in school and are later placed in jobs.
The program, however, is in danger of failing because of the problems with fee payments.
202 students from Uasin Gishu county who were airlifted to study at three universities in Finland are in danger of being deported because of unpaid tuition, despite the fact that their parents had paid the money into a pooled trust account with the county government serving as guarantor. Following an investigation by a county assembly committee, it has since been confirmed that the county officials in charge of the program did not transfer the funds to the universities as intended.
Similar to Uasin Gishu, the county government served as guarantor in Elgeyo Marakwet.
The governor has instructed the investigative team to confirm reports that the placement agency that also transported the students to Finland had exaggerated the charge to almost twice the amount. The team will also look into why airlifting 23 students who paid the fees took more than a year.
At a consultative meeting with worried parents on Wednesday held at the county's Iten offices, Mr. Rotich announced that the administration had put in place procedures to secure the program's continuation.
Today we met parents with continuing students and those yet to proceed to Finland and have paid school fees for their students and gave them my administration assurance about the continuity of the programme. I can assure you that the kids won't be sent away," he said.
Edwin Kibor, the executive in charge of education, will lead the investigation team, which will examine every student enrolled in Finland.
The team will also find out the amount of money spent by parents to send the students to Finland and what had necessitated delay of some of the students who would have flown to Finland last year, as well as the inconsistency in fee payment.
"A year has passed since I made my payment, and as of right now, we are unsure if they will still join Tampere. We need answers,” he protested.
In June 2020, former area Governor Alex Tolgos issued admission letters to 25 students who joined Tampere University of Applied Sciences in Finland.
Mr Samson Kiplagat, an affected parent, said despite paying the requisite fees, his child is yet to go to Finland to begin the studies.
"I can guarantee that your kids are secure, parents. We are making necessary accommodations for the pupils to continue with their studies. There has been a misunderstanding between the institutions and the parents,” the governor stated.
The students were sent to Finland by the county government and the university to pursue degrees in nursing and healthcare.
As a result of the partnership, the university gave the students a reduction in fees.
The county also entered into a contract with Tampere City that would offer students part-time jobs while they are enrolled in classes so they could pay their tuition and maintenance.
“You are the pioneers of this collaboration and I want you to travel to Finland and do our county and your parents proud. This will open way for those students who will come after you. Please be our good ambassadors,” the former governor had said then.
Mr. Tolgos led off two groups of 100 students each in May 2022, one to Tredu University and Tampere University.
16 of them were slated to enroll in a nursing degree program at the University of Helsinki, while 25 were listed to pursue a Tampere University certificate in practical nursing.
Fifty students were to proceed to Tredu University for nursing programmes.
