The Ministry of Education has called on university students to cancel their planned demonstrations over the newly introduced higher education funding model set for Monday, September 9, 2024.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba announced on Sunday that the ministry is forming two committees to engage students and stakeholders in discussions about the new model.
Ogamba urged student leaders to suspend the protests for an open and consultative process. This would enable students to participate in shaping higher education policies while continuing their studies without disruption.
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The two committees will focus on evaluating the current implementation of the funding model and suggesting improvements.
They will assess the effectiveness of the means-testing tool used to classify students' socio-economic backgrounds, review the structure of student loans, including interest rates and repayment timelines, and analyze the cost of university programs to ensure affordability.
The committees will include student leaders, experts, and other relevant stakeholders and are expected to complete their tasks within a specified timeframe.
The protests come in response to concerns that the new funding model may disadvantage many students, making it difficult for them to access higher education.
Under the model, student placement is no longer directly linked to funding. Instead, students must apply for scholarships and loans through the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) and the Universities Fund (UF). Funding will consist of scholarships, loans, and household contributions, determined by a means-testing tool categorizing students into five socio-economic bands.
President William Ruto has defended the new model, emphasizing that the most financially needy students will receive up to Ksh.60,000 for upkeep, with the funding split between scholarships, loans, and household contributions based on their assessed needs.
