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Ogamba: Improved university funding model to be unveiled next month

Ogamba said a committee formed last year is almost completing its work.

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by JAMES MBAKA

Realtime29 January 2025 - 09:22
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In Summary


  • CS Ogamba said the government will unveil a refined form of the university funding model in September.
  • He said the committee has already submitted a preliminary report with the final report expected by February.

Education CS Julius Ogamba speaking at Umoja Junior School in Mombasa, January 23, 2025/File

A revised version of the new university funding model will soon be unveiled once a technical team completes a review of the annulled formula.

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba stated that the government is refining the model by expanding the variables used in the Means Testing Instrument (MTI).

 The CS noted that the task force, appointed by President William Ruto in September last year, has already submitted a preliminary report proposing several changes to the previous model.

The new university funding model, which took effect in May 2023, has faced numerous challenges, leading to its annulment by the High Court last December due to concerns over discrimination.

According to Ogamba, the revised model will be implemented in September, coinciding with the admission of first-year students to universities and colleges.

“The final report will be ready by the end of the week or early February,” Ogamba said.

A key feature of the proposed model is the expansion of MTI parameters to assess students’ financial needs based on household income.

This refined assessment will place students into five funding bands, determining their eligibility for government sponsorship.

“The funding model, which has been in operation for two years, has faced challenges that we acknowledge. A committee was formed to address these issues and realign the model,” Ogamba said during an inspection tour of classrooms in Kabete Sub-County.

“The committee has submitted an interim report and is finalizing its work.”

Once the review is completed, the recommendations will be integrated into the MTI to improve the selection criteria, ensuring that all categories of Kenyan students are accurately assessed.

“Despite its challenges, the model has functioned for the past two years. In September, it will be refined and fully operationalized,” Ogamba added.

The model has sparked public outcry, with Kenyans and education stakeholders calling for a comprehensive review to address students' concerns.

The current system has mistakenly placed some disadvantaged students in higher funding bands, requiring them to pay more fees despite their financial hardships.

Some low-income households have been classified alongside wealthier families, despite providing accurate information in the Means Testing Instrument.

These shortcomings are among the key issues the ongoing review aims to resolve by expanding the model’s variables and refining the definitions to better align with income levels.


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