4,600 Students Appeal University Funding Amid Controversy Over New Model.
A total of 4,621 university students have lodged appeals against their government funding allocations under the revised university financing model, data from the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) shows. The appeals were filed following the reopening of the appeals portal on April 1, as directed by the Court of Appeal.
With the submission deadline set for April 21, dissatisfied students now have only four days left to contest their funding categorisation under the Variable Scholarship and Loan Funding Model.
The Ministry of Education modified the appeals process to align with the Court of Appeal’s directives, enabling a broader and more inclusive approach. HELB Chief Executive Officer Geoffrey Monari indicated that students can now present several reasons for appeal, not just one as previously required.
He further explained that the updated system accommodates explanations beyond preset categories, providing greater flexibility for students to describe their unique situations.
Following a Court of Appeal ruling on March 26, which suspended a prior High Court declaration that found the new funding model unconstitutional, HELB and the Universities Fund initiated a 14-day public review of the scholarship and loan appeals process starting April 1. The court instructed that public participation be conducted and integrated into the model’s framework.
As a result, the appeals mechanism was revised, and feedback from the public was incorporated, as mandated by the court.
Monari also confirmed that HELB had successfully processed 109,000 funding applications from new students. This backlog had occurred after the High Court issued a temporary injunction against the new model in December 2024, halting disbursements until legal clarity was achieved.
Read Also: Slow Student Applications Worry KUCCPS Officials as Deadline Nears
At present, appeals are reviewed using the Means Testing Instrument (MTI) score applied during initial evaluations. Only new and previously unsubmitted information can affect reassessment outcomes.
Grounds for reconsideration include the death of one or both parents, abandonment by guardians, or chronic illness within the family. Students with disabilities or those benefiting from government cash transfer programs and social protection schemes also qualify for review.
Additional considerations include recent loss of parental income, prior sponsorship in basic education, or having a sibling enrolled in higher education who is concurrently applying for financial support.
4,600 Students Appeal University Funding Amid Controversy Over New Model.
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