MPs Demand Clarity on President Ruto’s University Funding Model.
Members of Parliament are intensifying their scrutiny of President William Ruto’s new university funding model, demanding answers to key questions about its implementation and impact. Led by Samburu West MP Naisula Lesuuda, lawmakers are calling for a comprehensive review of the model’s effectiveness, beneficiary distribution, and its equitable sharing since its inception.
MPs want to understand how effectively the new funding model works. They have requested a detailed report on the model’s performance and an analysis of the impact on beneficiaries since its introduction. Additionally, they are pushing for transparency in how the funds are allocated among beneficiaries to ensure fairness.
Lesuuda emphasized the need for the Ministry of Education to address concerns about the system’s operation and the challenges it faces. Lawmakers are particularly interested in learning how the government plans to educate parents, guardians, and students about the model’s workings and any systemic issues that have arisen.
Parliamentary Oversight and Summons
The National Assembly’s Education Committee has already taken action, summoning Principal Secretary for Higher Education and Research Beatrice Inyangala, as well as the University Fund (UF) management, to provide detailed answers. They are scheduled to appear before the committee next Thursday.
Lesuuda raised significant concerns, noting widespread anxiety among students and parents about the new model. She highlighted that the model’s student categorization into bands has sparked fears regarding the accessibility of funds for needy students. There are worries that public universities are struggling with debt and budget deficits, raising questions about the model’s ability to address these challenges while ensuring equitable access to higher education.
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The MPs are calling for a report on how the new funding model affects public universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions. They want to see a breakdown of the fees charged by universities, detailing what parents must pay and what government funding will cover.
Lesuuda also questioned the safeguards in place to ensure the model doesn’t undermine progress towards 100% transition from secondary to higher education. She asked for measures to ensure that high fees do not prevent needy students from gaining admission to public universities, including those enrolled in private institutions but sponsored by the government.
Committee’s Plans and Implementation Challenges
National Assembly Education Committee Chairman Julius Melly confirmed that the committee is fully engaged with the matter. They will meet with PS Inyangala, the University Funding board CEO, and the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) CEO on Thursday to address these concerns.
The new funding model, now in its second year, has faced several challenges. Among the issues are delays in fund disbursements from the National Treasury to HELB and the University Fund. By May, the Treasury had not released Sh29 billion, including Sh7.9 billion for first-year student scholarships and Sh4.2 billion for TVET scholarships.
The model categorizes students into five income bands to determine funding levels. Band one includes students from households earning below Sh5,995 per month. the second band covers families with monthly incomes between Sh5,995 and Sh23,670. On the other hand, band three consists of households earning Sh23,671 to Sh70,000. Band four includes those with incomes from Sh70,001 to Sh119,999, while band five comprises students from families earning Sh120,000 and above.
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The University Fund awards scholarships, and HELB provides loans. Students do not need to repay scholarships, but they must repay loans after graduation. Students applying for funding for the upcoming academic year will receive their award details next Wednesday, just before the PS faces MPs.
New Fee Structure and Parental Concerns
Recently, MPs directed the Ministry of Education to revise the fee structure issued to students. They requested that the updated structure show only the amount parents are expected to pay, excluding government loans. This change aims to address concerns that the current fee structures, which include full course fees, have deterred some parents and students due to their high cost.
The MPs also instructed the ministry to provide fee information on a semester basis rather than the total course amount. This approach’s intention is to alleviate financial anxiety among parents and students.
In a recent meeting with PS Inyangala, the Education Committee resolved that the revised fee structure should be out before July 31. This timeline will allow parents adequate time to prepare financially.
Amidst broader budget cuts across government departments, the education committee successfully pushed for an increase in the Higher Education and Research department’s budget. They raised the allocation by Sh1.15 billion, from Sh119 billion to Sh120 billion. Therefore, this additional funding will support HELB, which saw a Sh710 million reduction in its budget, and the University Fund, which faced a Sh2.6 billion cut from its original Sh19.6 billion allocation.
As the new funding model continues to evolve, these adjustments aim to address ongoing challenges and improve the sustainability of higher education funding in Kenya.
MPs Demand Clarity on President Ruto’s University Funding Model.
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