President William Ruto has announced key adjustments during the 42nd graduation ceremony at the University of Eastern Africa, Baraton. The event, held on Sunday in Nandi County, saw the President serve as the chief guest, accompanied by top government officials, including Education Cabinet Secretary Migosi Ogamba and Principal Secretary for Higher Education, Dr. Beatrice Inyangala.
The adjustments come in response to a growing uproar among Kenyan parents, many of whom have expressed frustration after receiving admission letters for their children that indicated exorbitant fees. These fees, it turns out, were the result of incorrect placement in the new funding model’s income bands. President Ruto used the graduation ceremony as a platform to reassure the public that the government is actively addressing these challenges and rolling out measures to rectify the situation.
The New Funding Model: A Band-Based Approach
The new university funding model introduced by the government is structured into five bands, each defined by the family’s income level. PS Dr. Beatrice Inyangala provided a detailed breakdown of the model, explaining how each band determines the level of scholarship and loan support a student will receive.
Band One: The Most Needy Group
Band One comprises families with an income not exceeding Sh5,995 per month. Under this category, students are considered the most financially needy. The government will cover 70% of the university fees through a scholarship, while an additional 25% will be covered by a loan, making a total of 95% of the fees. Families in this band are only required to pay 5% of the fees. Additionally, students will receive an upkeep loan of Sh60,000 from the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB).
Band Two: Lower-Middle Income Families
Families in Band Two have a monthly income between Sh5,995 and Sh23,670. Here, the government will provide a 60% scholarship and a 30% loan, leaving the family to pay the remaining 10% of the fees. Students in this band will receive an upkeep loan of Sh55,000.
Band Three: Middle Income Families
This band includes families with an income between Sh23,670 and Sh70,000. For these students, the government will cover 50% of the fees through a scholarship, with an additional 30% provided as a loan. The family is required to pay 20% of the fees. Students will also receive an upkeep loan of Sh50,000.
Band Four: Upper-Middle Income Families
Families with an income between Sh70,000 and Sh120,000 fall under Band Four. The government will provide a 40% scholarship, a 30% loan, and the family will be responsible for the remaining 30% of the fees.
Band Five: Higher Income Families
Band Five covers families earning more than Sh120,000 per month. In this band, the government offers a 30% loan, while the family is responsible for 40% of the fees, with the remaining 30% covered by a loan.
Addressing the Challenges
In her address, PS Inyangala acknowledged the challenges that have arisen since the implementation of the new model, particularly the misplacement of some students into higher income bands, resulting in significantly higher fees. She emphasized that the government is committed to ensuring that every student is accurately placed according to their family’s income level.
In light of these challenges, Education CS Julius Ogamba announced that students who believe they have been wrongly placed in a higher income band have the opportunity to appeal their placement through the Higher Education Portal. This move aims to provide a fair and transparent process for all students to receive the financial support they need.
Moving Forward
President Ruto’s announcement also included the release of new admission letters for first-year students set to join universities in September. These letters, the President assured, now reflect the correct fees, accurately aligned with the government’s revised funding model.
The adjustments to the funding model mark a crucial step in the government’s efforts to make higher education accessible and affordable for all Kenyan students, regardless of their financial background. As the government continues to fine-tune the model, the President reiterated his commitment to ensuring that no student is left behind due to financial constraints.
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