“No student will be left behind” – Ruto

The government will pay college and university fees for extremely needy students, effective this year, according to a new model of funding university education.

Poor families will only pay seven percent of the cost of their university education.

According to President William Ruto, students from needy households joining universities will receive Government scholarships of up to a maximum of 53 percent and loans of up to 40 percent while those joining TVETs will receive Government scholarships up to a maximum of 50 percent and 30 percent in loans.

The funding will be through government scholarships, loans and bursaries.

According to the model, the less needy students joining university will be funded through a Government scholarship of up to a maximum of 38 percent of the cost of the programme and 55 percent in the form of loans.

Those joining TVETs will receive Government scholarships up to a maximum of 50 percent and 30 percent in loans. They will be funded 32 percent for Government scholarships, 48 percent for loans and their households will pay 20 percent of the costs.

The President said a new funding model is inevitable to solve the financial crises that public universities are in, adding that the funding will be “student-centered and apportioned to learners based on their need level”.

Under the new funding model, Universities will be required to publicize the costs of their programs.

In the financial year 2022/23, Sh54 billion was allocated to university education as grants and loans; budgetary allocation would be increased to 84.6 billion in the next financial year.

The president also clarified that the new university funding model has not  increased university fees.