MPs urge universities to admit all students regardless of household contribution capabilities

Universities have been asked to admit all students for learning, regardless of whether they have a household contribution for tuition or not.

National Assembly members told the Principal Secretary for Higher Education to instruct universities to implement that directive as the ministry seeks to rectify errors that have been identified with the new university banding funding model that has seen hundreds of students placed in what they deem as wrong financial bands, placing education out of their reach.

The newly introduced model of funding that allocates funding to students based primarily on the student’s household income has confused students who have been categorized complaining of having been placed in the wrong bands.

Legislators are taking top-level education ministry officers to task to justify the changes in the funding models.

Another MP commented, "This is Kenya; very few people earn 120k. They need to change the principle. The whole system is a mess. They should go back to the drawing board."

Ministry of Education officials say the model, while well-intentioned, has run into headwinds, especially on the collection of adequate data on family incomes, with students either giving incorrect information at the application stage or getting insufficient aid while filling out the forms at cyber cafes.

The ministry also acknowledged that the type of school students attended has contributed to their banding.

Education Principal Secretary Dr Beatrice Inyangala mentioned, "84.8% of the children went to national schools, where they were paying Ksh.53,000 as fees plus other costs, while others studied in private schools."

Mbita MP Millie Odhiambo responded, "That presumption is very defective. Some kids are paid for by CDF (Constituency Development Fund)."

The MPs are asking the ministry to review the means-testing tool to ensure equity and fairness.

"Approach this from a financial tool, not as a social tool. Use the finances of the family, not their social circumstances,” said Suba South MP Caroli Omondi.

But before those changes are effected, MPs want all students to be allowed to join university and learn without the hindrances brought about by the confusion in the banding.

"Can you issue a public declaration that kids should go to university and the money should follow them?" Speaker Moses Wetangula asked.

Universities Funding CEO Geoffrey Monari on his part responded, "Universities have agreed to accept students when they report."

At the same time, the MPs are asking the ministry to consolidate all the bursaries into a common basket for better disbursement in an equitable and fair manner.