Education Ministry to Establish Committee for Student Input on New University Funding Model.
The Ministry of Education has advised university students to cancel their scheduled Monday demonstrations over higher education’s new funding model.
On Sunday, Education CS Julius Migos Ogamba announced that his ministry is forming two committees to engage students and other stakeholders in discussions over the new controversial model.
CS Ogamba announced a request to the university student leadership to cancel the September 9, 2024, demonstrations to facilitate an open consultative process.
This, he explained, would give the student community the opportunity to contribute effectively to issues concerning higher education while continuing their studies without disruption.
He went on to say that his ministry has been eager to engage students and stakeholders in discussions about the new funding model in order to find a solution.
Ogamba stated that the newly constituted committees will conduct an evaluation of the status of the new funding model’s implementation and provide recommendations for improvement.
The working committees’ specific terms of reference will focus on evaluating the implementation of the new funding model, assessing the effectiveness of the new testing instrument to accurately capture students’ socioeconomic status, and assessing the effectiveness of the appeals mechanism.
Furthermore, the committees will examine the costs of university programs, as well as the structure of student loans, interest rates, and payback terms.
The two committees will include student leaders, experts, and other key stakeholders. CS Ogamba stated that the committees will be time-bound.
This comes as university students prepare to protest the new higher education funding model, which many argue is unfair and will prevent many from obtaining a higher education.
The new model separates student placement from funding, requiring students to apply to the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) and Universities Fund (UF) for loans and scholarships, respectively.
Scientifically established means-testing devices now combine scholarships, loans, and household payments on a progressive scale to fund students. The means testing instrument classifies eligible students into five bands.
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President William Ruto, while rallying support for the model, stated that qualifying students will get between Ksh.40,000 and Ksh.60,000 in maintenance, depending on their financial situation.
For instance, the model will place the most needy students in band one, where they will receive a 70% scholarship, a 25% loan, a 5% household contribution, and Ksh 60,000 in maintenance.
The new model requires that only individuals placed in public institutions by KUCCPS be eligible for scholarships and loans, whereas those placed in private enterprises are only eligible for HELB loans.
Education Ministry to Establish Committee for Student Input on New University Funding Model.
