About 9,000 Students Disqualified From Gov't Scholarships

Approximately 9, 000 students have rejected public universities in favour of private universities.

This decision disqualifies them from government scholarships, but they will be eligible for a Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) study loan.

However, the number is comparable to those previously sponsored by the government and posted by the Kenya Universities and Central Placement Service (KUCCPS).

This comes after legislators, vice chancellors of public universities, and other government agencies presented a compelling case against State financing of students placed in private universities.

Some students have also chosen to apply directly to private universities, which may increase enrollment in private institutions.

A document presented to Parliament reveals that the government sent 86,270 state-sponsored students to private universities over the course of six years.

The institutions admitted 10,984 students in 2016, 17,363 in 2017, 12,656 in 2018, 17,511 in 2019, 27,751 in 2020, and 12,000 in 2021.

This provides additional evidence for the return of the parallel programs.

The introduction of government-sponsored students to private universities was proposed for the first time in 2014 in a sessional paper aiming to reform the financially problematic university sector.

The Education ministry implemented it in 2016 in response to a directive from President Uhuru Kenyatta.

While announcing the placement process, Machogu also requested that universities provide students with admission and reporting information.

To access loans and scholarships under the new funding formula, students will be required to submit a formal application through the Higher Education Financing portal accessible at www.hef.co.ke.

This effectively marks the end of the previous funding paradigm, in which the government funded all students with a grade of C+ (Plus) or higher.

According to the formula, students will receive state funding based on the socioeconomic status of their families and the cost of their university programs.

President William Ruto announced that funding for students will be divided into four categories based on whether they are vulnerable, exceedingly needy, needy, or less needy.

The vulnerable will receive a full scholarship, with the government scholarship accounting for 82% and the loan accounting for 18%.

Government scholarships will cover 70% of the cost of tuition for exceedingly needy students, while loans will cover 30%.

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