Orange Democratic Movement party (ODM) communication director Philip Etale has urged the national government to ensure all students qualified to join university get admitted amid debate on the new university funding model.
Taking to his X account on Wednesday, August 28, 2024, Etale said that requests for school fees fundraising are many amid economic hardship.
“Government should find a way of ensuring all students called to join university get admitted to start their studies,” Etale said.
“Requests for fundraisers are many, yet resources are scarce. What are bursaries for? Or are they issued selectively on the ‘whom do you know’ basis?”
Government should find a way of ensuring all students called to join University get admitted to start their studies. Requests for fundraisers are many, yet resources are scarce. What are bursaries for? Or are they issued selectively on the ‘whom do you know basis?’
— Philip Etale (@EtalePhilip) August 28, 2024
University funding model
Principal Secretary (PS) of the State Department for Higher Education and Research, Ministry of Education Beatrice Inyangala, on August 16, 2024, broke down the five bands created by the government in the university funding model.
According to the PS, the government will offer a 70 per cent scholarship and a 25 per cent loan in band one. In band two, the students will receive a 60 per cent scholarship and a 10 per cent loan from the government.
“The government scholarship will cover 70%, and the loan will cover 25%, making the total support 95% in band one. The family will contribute 5%, and the upkeep loan will be Ksh60,000. In band 2, the government scholarship will cover 60%, and the loan will cover 30%, making the total support 90%. The family will contribute 10%, and the upkeep loan will be Ksh55,000,” she stated.
For bands three and four, the students will receive 80 per cent and 70 per cent from the government, respectively.
“In band 3, the government scholarship will cover 50%, and the loan will cover 30%, making the total support 80%. The family will contribute 20%, and the upkeep loan will be Ksh50,000. In band four, the government scholarship will cover 40%, and the loan will cover 30%, making the total support 70%. The family will contribute 30%,” she added.
Ruto on new funding model
Defending the much-criticised funding model, President William Ruto argued that it was designed primarily to benefit students from extremely poor backgrounds.
According to Ruto, under the new model, universities and TVETs (Technical and Vocational Education and Training institutions) will no longer receive block funding based on a differentiated unit cost.
Instead, funding will be more targeted, with needy students receiving government scholarships of up to 53% and loans of up to 40%.
“The Higher Education Funding Model is designed to ensure vulnerable students receive adequate financing, and guaranteeing education for all. Parents will only pay 7% of the total cost of their university education,” Ruto said.