On August 21, 2024, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos vigorously defended Kenya's new university funding model, arguing that it addresses the financial needs of students from all walks of life.
The CS, who spoke during the International Confederation of Principals in Mombasa County, assured stakeholders that the new model would ensure students from financially disadvantaged backgrounds receive the support they need.
The new funding model was introduced by President William Ruto to address concerns regarding equitable access to university education.
Under this model, students are grouped into different financial bands, which determine how much government assistance they will receive.
The system is designed to ensure that students from less privileged families benefit the most from government support, while those from wealthier backgrounds shoulder a fairer share of the cost.
CS Migos explained that while the university funding system has been around for 29 years, the adjustments made to the model are necessary to keep up with the changing financial landscape.
According to Migos, the recent changes were aimed at fine-tuning the instruments used to assess financial need. This ensures that students who genuinely require government assistance are the ones benefiting from it.
He emphasized that the Ministry of Education has taken note of the concerns raised by students and parents about the new funding approach. To address these concerns, Migos assured the public that the Ministry is working on resolving any issues in the next few weeks.
One of the key features of the new system is a portal that allows students to appeal their assigned financial bands. This ensures that those who may have been placed in the wrong band due to inaccurate data can have their cases reviewed and corrected.
"We are working every single minute to re-band students," Migos stated, showing the Ministry's commitment to ensuring fairness in the process.
He also reiterated the government’s goal of achieving 100 percent transition for all learners. The CS assured the public that no deserving student would be left out of university education due to financial difficulties.
Despite these assurances, the new model has faced criticism from various quarters. Leaders like Narok Senator Ledama Olekina have voiced their concerns, labeling the new system as confusing and potentially creating unfair distinctions among students.
Olekina and others argue that the banding system could deepen social inequality by classifying students based on their family's financial situation.
In response to such criticism, Migos reiterated that the government's intention is not to divide students but to ensure that everyone gets the financial help they need, depending on their unique circumstances.
He emphasized that the system is built on the principle of fairness, with wealthier families expected to contribute more to their children's education.
The Education Ministry is keen on ensuring the success of the new funding model. Migos and his team remain optimistic that the issues raised by critics will be addressed, allowing the system to fulfill its intended purpose of making university education more accessible to all Kenyan students.
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