Ruto Defends New University Funding Model Amid Public Concerns
President William Ruto has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring that the most vulnerable students in Kenya receive adequate financial support for their higher education.
In a recent statement, the President announced that the Ministry of Education will increase funding for scholarships and loans for extremely needy students to 95%.
This comes amid public debate over the newly implemented funding model for higher education, which categorizes students based on their financial need and capability.
The new model, which uses an improved means testing instrument, evaluates students’ financial aid needs based on various socio-economic factors, including household income, geographic location, poverty levels, and special circumstances like disabilities.
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The goal is to ensure that government resources are equitably distributed and that financial aid reaches the students who need it most.
Under this revised system, students are grouped into five bands:
- Band 1: Extremely needy and vulnerable students. They will receive 70% of their tuition in scholarships, 25% in loans, and will only need to contribute 5% of the fees. Additionally, they will receive 60,000 KES in upkeep support.
- Band 2: Students from low-income families. This group will get 60% in scholarships, 30% in loans, and will be required to pay 10% of the fees. They will also receive 55,000 KES in upkeep support.
- Band 3: Students from modest-income families. They will receive 50% in scholarships, 30% in loans, and 50,000 KES for upkeep, while contributing 10% of the fees.
- Band 4 and 5: Students from middle and high-income families. They will contribute the most to tuition costs, paying 40% and 20% respectively. These students will receive 30% of their fees as loans and between 40,000 to 45,000 KES for upkeep.
Special provisions are also in place for students with disabilities, orphans, and those from marginalized communities, ensuring they are not disadvantaged under this new system.
The Ministry of Education has confirmed that applications for government funding from 85% of last year’s qualifying students have already been received, with the application process remaining open until the end of the year.
However, it is important to note that this new funding model applies only to the 2022 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) cohort. Students who are already enrolled in universities will continue to be funded under the old model.
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This move by President Ruto to increase funding for the most vulnerable students is seen as a positive step towards equitable access to higher education, although the revised funding model has sparked significant public debate.
The success of this initiative will largely depend on its implementation and the government’s ability to address any emerging concerns from students and their families.
Ruto Defends New University Funding Model Amid Public Concerns
