Nairobi, Kenya, Sep 2 – University of Nairobi students staged demonstrations on Monday to protest the new University Funding Model, which they argue will undermine the quality of university education due to its perceived unfair distribution criteria.
Student leaders, including Rocha Madzayo of the University of Nairobi Students Association, have voiced strong opposition to the model, urging students nationwide to reject it. Madzayo highlighted concerns that under the new system, attending private institutions may become more cost-effective than public universities. “We will continue to protest if the government does not address our concerns,” he declared.
Last week, President William Ruto defended the new funding model, underscoring its focus on the varying needs of students rather than the universities themselves. “We need a funding model that prioritizes the student and ensures no child in Kenya is left behind, particularly those from vulnerable backgrounds,” Ruto stated.
However, the new model has faced criticism from various education stakeholders, who argue that it fails to support needy students adequately. Nearly 12,000 students have filed appeals through the Higher Education Financing (HEF) portal, contesting the model’s implementation.
Universities Fund Chief Executive Officer Godfrey Monari has announced that the review process for these appeals has commenced, with students expected to receive updates within three weeks of submission. Concerns have also been raised about the Means Testing Instrument (MTI), which is used to classify students into different funding categories. Critics have pointed out issues with data accuracy and the grading parameters used.
The funding model categorizes students into five bands based on eight variables, including parental background, gender, course type, marginalization, disability, family size, and composition. Despite this, many students and parents have reported being misclassified, with a significant number placed in the lower funding bands.
The Ministry of Education has allocated Sh5.8 billion for student loans and Sh2.8 billion for scholarships under this new model, which replaces the Differentiated Unit Cost (DUC) system. Unveiled by President Ruto on May 3, 2023, this framework is intended to provide financial support to all eligible students based on their needs.
