Twelve organisations on Thursday faulted the new education funding model.
“The President's hurried and premature rollout transferred the responsibility of providing education from the state to the parents, many of whom are struggling to keep their children in school,” they said in a statement.
The organisations include the Kenya Human Rights Commission, Uraia Trust, Elimu Tuitakayo, Constitution Reforms Education Consortium, Social Justice Centre Working Group, National Students Caucus, Kenya National Interface Team, and the Youth Agenda.
Others are the Universities Academic Staff Union, Centre for Education Policy and Climate Justice, Association of Parents with Children with Special Needs and Education for Africa.
“There must be clarity about selecting universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) courses. Eligible students face prolonged university and college placement delays due to a lack of clear instructions from Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Services,” they said..
Currently, they said, university and TVET courses are associated with higher fees than expected. Previously, government-supported students would pay Sh16,000 per annum for similar classes and get a loan of up to Sh60,000 yearly, they added.
They argued that now they have to part with an average of Sh650,000 per annum, all without scholarships. The implication has been students dropping out or avoiding selecting the courses altogether, they added.
Additionally, they said, the criteria used to qualify for government support still need to be determined.
They said knowing which student is vulnerable, very needy, needy, and less needy is challenging, yet these are the government's yardstick in assessing the level of support it will offer students.
“Due to technical glitches, only 30 per cent of eligible students applied for government scholarships and loans through the Higher Education Fund and Higher Education Loans Board. The situation has left most students unable to apply for funding and likely locked out of higher education,” they stated.
The Elimu Bora Working Group calls for halting of the funding model, adding that they want the country to return to the previous model for continuing and new students.
EBWG wants the government to ensure unhindered university and TVET entry for qualified students and waive registration fees.