President William Ruto has directed all university vice-chancellors to allow students to sit for end-of-semester exams, regardless of outstanding fee balances.
Ruto who was speaking during the Scott Christian University graduation ceremony in Machakos on Friday, December 6, stated that students should be allowed to sit for their exams as the universities await disbursement of money under the New Funding Model.
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The President emphasized that the spirit of humane consideration is critical given the issue of additional challenges posed by litigation which could destroy the implementation of the model.
“As we navigate the changes brought about by the transition to the student-centred higher education funding model, I urge universities to exercise patience and understanding with students,” Ruto said.
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“Therefore, I appeal to universities to allow students to sit for their end-of-semester examination while awaiting resumption of full disbursement once the process gives direction on the matter.”
Ruto Orders Universities to Allow Student Sit for Exams
The Head of State said that he took the responsibility to sort out the challenges that bedeviled the old University funding model.
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He urged stakeholders to take special care to ensure that no student is denied the opportunity to learn, grow and succeed regardless of their background.
“The old funding model almost brought many of our universities to closure,” he said.
“It is not right that we continue a model that created a huge debt and that is why I am deliberate, intentional and I am focused on making sure that we have a model that does not take again our university education where we have it with Ksh120 billion debt.”
Also Read: Blow to Ruto as High Court Stops Implementation of University Fees Model
Ruto mentioned that he has worked with the university vice chancellors to ensure that they have a model that makes university education accessible but puts it on a sound financial footing.
He explained that government sponsored students cannot be sent to private universities because the government has not yet paid for those who were sent to the said institutions.
Also Read: HELB Issues Way Forward for University Funding Model After Court Order
Court Ruling on the New Funding Model
This comes after High Court Judge Justice Chacha Mwita on October 3, 2024, issued a conservatory order halting the implementation of the HEF model following a petition filed by the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), and other parties.
Judge Mwita further directed that the ruling will take effect until the case filed by KHRC and others, including Elimu Bora Working Group, is determined.
KHRC and other parties in their petition argued that the model would prevent many students from accessing university funds.
Additionally, they claimed that the funding model is discriminatory due to the requirement that students must be over 18 years of age to apply for funding.
The model’s mean testing instrument (MTI), which uses family income and socio-economic factors to classify applicants into five bands, has been criticized for misclassifying students.
This has led to many needy students receiving less funding. Under the new model introduced in May 2023, funding for students in public universities consists of a combination of government scholarships, loans, and household contributions. The proportion of each component varies according to the student’s band.
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