Govt to Adjust Formular for University Fees Affecting All Students

Education Cabinet Secretary (CS) Julius Ogamba has announced that the government will implement changes to the university funding model.

Speaking during the Nyeri Polytechnic graduation ceremony on Friday, Ogamba stated that these changes will make funding more inclusive for students.

“The issues raised indicated that some of the variables used did not accurately reflect the students’ financial capacity. Therefore, we have been refining that particular committee’s work, which includes assessing the cost of programs,” Migosi mentioned.

Ogamba added that the variables have been expanded to produce results that closely align with each individual’s capacity.

Ogamba Hints at New Variables in the Funding Model

The Education CS also noted that program costs were reviewed to ensure they were appropriately priced, and any adjustments recommended by the 129- member committee appointed by President William Ruto will be implemented.

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Ogamba affirmed that the adjustments to the university funding model will align with the committee’s recommendations and address the concerns highlighted by the court regarding the funding model.

The Education Cabinet Secretary’s announcement comes two days after the Court of Appeal ruled on the new University Funding Model, which the High Court had deemed unconstitutional.

Court of Appeal ruling on the Funding Model

In their ruling, Justices Patrick Kiage, Weldon Korir, and Joel Ngugi instructed the Attorney General, the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB), and the Trustees of the Universities Fund to establish and publicly announce an appeals process within 14 days.

This process aims to provide students who are dissatisfied with funding decisions or their funding classifications an avenue for redress.

The court underscored that this appeals mechanism should be accessible to all students and other relevant stakeholders.

“The execution of the judgment and orders of the High Court in Petition 412 of 2023, issued on December 20 2024, is stayed,” the court stated.

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Furthermore, the appellate court directed higher learning institutions to inform students currently under the funding model, as well as new applicants, that the framework could change based on the appeal’ s outcome.

The new university funding model has sparked controversy in the past, with the majority complaining that it is discriminatory due to its categorization of students into bands. The public outcry regarding the model prompted President Ruto to appoint a 129- member committee on September 16, 2024, to review the new university funding model.

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