Parents Of Extremely Needy Students To Pay Only 5% Fees In New University Funding Model

• The government will shoulder the better of university fees for Kenyan students coming from extremely poor households
• According to the Ministry of Education, such scholars, classed in band one, will only cater for 5% of the total fees throughout their courses in addition to loans and grants
• Earlier, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba directed the public universities to ensure 100% admission regardless of students' households' capabilities

Nairobi - As debate intensifies over Kenya's recently introduced university funding model, it has become evident that students from low-income families stand to gain the most.

Amount poor students get in new university funding model

Students who are extremely needy and vulnerable will get scholarships at 70% and loans at 25%, while the household will contribute only 5% of the fees.

The students categorised as band one, get upkeep of KSh 60,000.

Through the Means Testing Instrument (MTI), the government is able to determine the level of students' needs using 10 key parameters.

The parameters are; parents' background, gender, course type, previous school type, expenditure on education, family size and composition, marginalization, persons living with disability, chronic illness, and income.

“Each student is scored on each of these parameters, and the weights are analysed in a scientific model that determines the student’s level of need and the associated band,” the Ministry of Education explained.

According to authorities, the MTI model has undergone rigorous review and validation to ensure accurate categorization.

The model, which was unveiled by President William Ruto on May 3, 2023, seeks to address long-standing challenges faced by public universities and Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) institutions.

The challenges include ballooning enrollment numbers and insufficient funding.

The introduction of this model marks a significant shift in the way higher education in Kenya is financed.

It replaces the previous Differentiated Unit Cost (DUC) framework, which was widely criticized for failing to adequately meet the financial needs of many institutions.

Instead, the new funding system prioritises students based on their financial needs, ensuring that those from poor and vulnerable backgrounds are given the highest priority.

New student-centered model

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba said the new model is majorly aimed at creating an equitable higher education system, where every eligible student has access to financial support regardless of their economic background.

“In line with the president’s directive, the Ministry is pleased to announce that all universities have rolled out the process of releasing new letters to all the first batch of 125, 893 students who have so far applied for loans and scholarships under the Student-Centered Model,” Ogamba said.

Under this new approach, funding is provided through a combination of scholarships, loans, and household contributions.

This model aims to ensure that students can afford their education by receiving a mix of financial aid, with the amount determined by their socio-economic status.

Categories under new funding model

The model divides students into five categories based on family income and other factors, such as the size of the household and the number of children in school.

Each category determines the proportion of scholarships and loans the student is eligible for, ensuring that the most vulnerable receive the most support.

The categories are band one to five.

“The model ensures that students from vulnerable backgrounds receive between 80 and 95% of tuition loans and scholarships to pursue education like other Kenyans,” Ruto said on August 18, 2024, during the University of Eastern African Baraton 42nd graduation ceremony.

Funding model in each band

Band one entails students who are extremely needy and vulnerable.

This group gets scholarships at 70% and loans at 25%, while the household will contribute only 5% of the fees.

The student gets upkeep of KSh 60,000.

Band two is for low-income families who require substantial aid; students receive a 60% scholarship and 30% in loans.

They also pay 10% of the fees, and the student receives KSh 55,000 in upkeep.

Band three are students from families that have modest incomes.

They get 50% in scholarships, 30% in loans, and KSh 50,000 as upkeep. Their families will pay 10% of the fees.

Band four and five, considered middle and high-income earners, will pay most of the tuition fees per household at 40% while the students will get 30% as loans and between KSh 40,000 and KSh 45,000 as student upkeep.

Proofreading by Asher Omondi, current affairs journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.