Deputy Government Spokesperson Gabriel Muthuma has praised the new higher education funding model, emphasizing that it will ease the struggles faced by students and bring significant improvements to the education sector. Muthuma highlighted that the new model ensures equitable access to higher education while also promoting financial sustainability.
“This model is designed to provide fair access to quality higher education, ensuring that all eligible students receive financial support tailored to their specific needs,” Muthuma stated.
He criticized the previous system as unsustainable, leading to disruptions in service payments and reduced lecturer attendance. “As the President pointed out, why should a wealthy individual’s child receive an 80 percent scholarship just like the child of a low-income earner? The new model aims to correct this imbalance,” he added.
Muthuma noted that President William Ruto inherited a Sh60 billion debt upon taking office, pushing universities to the brink of crisis. This substantial funding gap caused severe challenges within universities, compromising the quality of education.
To address these issues, the government introduced the New Higher Education Funding Model (NFM). Muthuma explained that the model uses the Means Testing Instrument to fairly assess student needs, categorizing them into five distinct funding tiers.
He also mentioned that the model includes an increased education budget and aims to provide clarity on the costs and benefits of the new funding structure. The Means Testing Instrument will evaluate student needs based on factors such as parental background, disability status, family size, gender, marginalization, educational expenses, course type, and previous school type.
Muthuma further explained that the placement and funding processes have been separated under the new model. “The Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service will now place students based on their choices and qualifications, while financial aid will be managed independently,” he noted.
Another key change is the allocation of funds based on the actual cost of university programs. The new model ensures that programs requiring more resources receive adequate funding and support.
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