Lobbies call for withdrawal of university funding model
The groups also want transparency in public appointments
Ogamba said a committee formed last year is almost completing its work.
In Summary
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 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.
The groups also want transparency in public appointments