NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 11 – Universities Fund Chief Executive Officer Geoffrey Monari has disclosed that all needy and vulnerable college and university students will be awarded government scholarships and loans.
Monari revealed that this will apply to all needy students selected to join public higher learning iinstitutions,whose number currently stands at 130,485, including those without national identification cards.
“There’s no student who will miss funding under the new funding model. All the students placed by KUCCPS and apply for funding will get scholarships and loans,” said Monari.
The University Funds boss further disclosed that 9,622 students placed in various private higher learning institutions in the country will also be beneficiaries of the new government loans and scholarships.
The body had been allocated a total of Sh19.6 billion in funding that the new university funding model is set to use to cater for government scholarships.
On May 3, 2023, President William Ruto unveiled the New Funding Model to address the current financial challenges at institutions of higher learning because of increasing enrolment in the face of inadequate funding.
The government is keen to roll out the funding model that it says will ensure inclusivity, leaving no student behind.
“For the first time, students whose households are at the bottom of the pyramid shall enjoy equal opportunities in accessing university and TVET education. Out of the 2022 KCSE graduates, over 45,000 university students and 42,000 TVET students categorized as vulnerable and extremely needy, will be fully funded under the Government Scholarships and Loans,” stated Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu during the launch of the fund in July.
The new model will see students receive funding, as opposed to the previous arrangement of higher learning institutions.
The students will receive state funding based on their family background as well as the cost of university programs.
President William Ruto announced that the four categories under which students will be funded will consider whether they are either vulnerable, extremely needy, needy, or less needy.
