Government to Adjust University Fee Structure.
The Ministry of Education has unveiled plans to revise the university fee structure as part of a broader initiative to sustain higher education institutions while ensuring affordability for students.
Addressing the Senate Education Committee on Thursday, Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Chief Executive Officer Geoffrey Monari stated that the proposal aimed to balance institutional sustainability with student affordability.
He further disclosed that the government was exploring options to enhance HELB financing and improve bursary allocations.
During the session, Education Principal Secretary Beatrice Inyangala, alongside other ministry officials, defended the new funding model introduced in 2023 under President William Ruto’s administration.
Acknowledging its shortcomings, Inyangala informed lawmakers that the government was working on a hybrid model combining government scholarships, student loans, and private-sector partnerships.
PS Muganda emphasized that the model had successfully lowered barriers to program accessibility, leading to increased student applications. However, the funding model remains in legal limbo following a High Court injunction that halted its implementation.
Concerns Over Future of University Funding
Despite the ministry’s defense, the committee, led by Vice Chairperson Senator Margaret Kamar, raised concerns about the uncertainty surrounding university funding.
Lawmakers pressed Inyangala for clarification on how students already placed under the model would continue receiving financial support and what measures were being considered to prevent disruptions.
Senator Kamar questioned how the model would simultaneously benefit both students and parents while ensuring a clearer understanding of the band categorization system.
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In response, PS Muganda confirmed that although the court order had paused full implementation, certain elements of the funding model were already in effect.
She assured the committee that the government was actively engaging stakeholders—including the judiciary, universities, and financial institutions—to address legal hurdles and restore stability to higher education funding.
Government to Adjust University Fee Structure.
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