A Kenyatta University (KU) student is appealing for financial help from Kenyans after running into financial challenges in paying her academic fees following her admission at the facility.
Sarah Awuor Ouma, a first year Education student at KU, risks dropping out after not being able to raise the required amount after the government placed her in an unfavorable band under the new funding model.
The banding has faced uproar from students, parents and guardians who have criticized the criteria used, with some lamenting of being placed in punitive bands despite their status.
Such cases include Sarah Ouma’s situation which was highlighted by a social media user on X platform on Tuesday, October 1 who revealed that she found the freshman distressed at the institution.
The user named Meloni said that the student disclosed to her that she risked dropping out having been asked to call off her studies due to financial hardships back home.
Meloni added that the KU student who hails from Nairobi’s Mathare slum disclosed that she had gone hungry for two days and that her family was unable to raise the required amount.
KU Student Sarah Ouma Appeals for Help
Further, the social media user noted that Ouma had been placed in band five of the HEF model.
Also Read: Indicators Govt Used to Categorize Students in Bands & What to Consider When Appealing
The total school fee per semester to be paid by Sarah Ouma amounts to Ksh48,960 according to the official university admission letter.
“I met a girl in tears today as I was strolling around Kenyatta University. I then approached the girl out of curiosity when she told me that she had gone hungry for two days and that her dad had asked her to call off her first year of studies as they could not afford her school fees and upkeep,” posted Meloni.
“Sarah Awuor Ouma was placed in band 5 of the new funding model and on appeal she didn’t get help. She’s a first-year student from Mathare 4A in the School of Education, KU Main Campus.”
Meloni called for Kenyans to help raising the students’ fees and highlighted that the freshman was an alumni of Butere Girls High School in Kakamega, where she studied with the help of scholarship for playing basketball.
The user further attached a contact details number where Kenyans can channel their contributions, adding that the deadline for fee payment is this Friday, October 4.
“Somebody help this girl. Her phone number is 0702490188,” added Meloni.
Kenyans reacted to Meloni’s highlighted posts with many promising to contribute for the student’s fees and further calling upon both the institution and the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) to intervene.
HEF model bands
Sarah Ouma’s case is among incidents where students have complained of being placed in the wrong HEF model bands.
A total of five bands are used to categorize the students, with those from families that have a monthly income of up to Ksh5, 995 placed in Band one.
Also Read: Ruto Gives Fresh Directive on University Funding
Those from families with a monthly income up to Ksh23,670, on the other hand, are placed in band two while those from families with a monthly income up to Ksh70,000 are placed in Band three.
Additionally, band four contains students from families with a monthly income up to Ksh120,000, with the final Band 5 selected for families with a monthly income above Ksh120,000.
MPs question categorization
On August 20, Members of Parliament (MPs) questioned Higher Education and Research PS Dr. Beatrice Muganda about the accuracy of the Means Testing Instrument (MTI) used in assessing students’ financial ability and determining their placement in the appropriate band.
This came after many students were wrongly placed, with a big number categorized in Bands 4 and 5. The MPs questioned the rationale behind placing students deemed to be needy in the highest bands.
The PS emphasized the government’s commitment to ensuring equity, and assured MPs that measures were in place to address the concerns raised.
In response to the complaints, Universities Fund CEO Geoffrey Monari said that the widespread categorization of students from needy families into the wrong bands was due to data entry mistakes made by the applicants themselves.
The new Higher Education Funding Model for public universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) was launched by President William Ruto on May 3, 2023.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos assured students that they will be allowed to sit their exams without clearing fees. The government also allowed dissatisfied student to appeal for a band review.
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