The Ministry of Education has appointed a National committee to refine the new university funding model that will see all students have equal access to higher education.
Education Cabinet Secretary (CS) Julius Ogamba said the government is always keen to ensure accountability, transparency, and broad-based participation in formulating and refining its policies.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the National Committee members at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Nairobi, the CS said the government implemented the new funding model to mainstream equity in financing university and Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) students through a combination of scholarships and loans.
“This event aims to address the financial barriers that hinder access to higher education, especially for the most vulnerable students,” stated Ogamba.
The CS revealed that the model that was implemented in 2023, was meant to fund 113,140 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education students’ entry into the public and private universities.
“The model almost doubled the resources to our universities, which have been increasing by five per cent each year,” he added.
Ogamba noted that any implemented model is a work in progress and stated that the new funding model presents multiple opportunities for further innovation and refinement.
“As a ministry, we promise to provide a conducive working environment for the national committee to deliver on its mandate effectively,” said the CS.
Speaking at the event, the Chief of Staff and the Head of Public Service, Felix Koskei, stated that education is the compass that guides the nation’s future and powers the collective progress of a nation.
“We are here to liberate our children as well as provide them with the knowledge that enables them to serve the community,” he said.
In her remarks, the Principal Secretary for the State Department for Higher Education and Research, Beatrice Inyangala, revealed that over the years, the government has been trying to crack the issue of affordability, quality of education, and accessibility.
“Today I am convinced that the collective wisdom among the inaugurated committee as well as other stakeholders in this room will give us a solution that would make our university and TVET education sustainable for the prosperity of our students as we look forward to world-class education,” she said.
By Manu Mumba and Moses Mwaura
