Ministry moves swifty to enhance varsity funding model

The Ministry of Education has reaffirmed its commitment to engage students and other stakeholders in enhancing the New Funding Model for Higher Education, launched in May 2023.

This follows students' concerns, including a planned demonstration on Monday, demanding more involvement in the decision-making process.

In response to recent concerns, the Ministry announced the formation of two Working Committees, including student leadership, to review and assess the effectiveness of the model. 

The two(2) committees will examine key areas such as the means testing instrument, appeal mechanisms, the cost of university programmes, and the structure of student loans.

As part of ongoing consultations, the Ministry has urged student leaders to cancel the scheduled demonstrations to allow room for broader, more inclusive discussions.

"The university student leadership is requested to call off the demonstration scheduled for September 9, 2024. This will afford the student community the chance to contribute effectively to issues pertaining to higher education while also progressing with their studies without disruptions," said Education Cabinet Secretary (CS) Julius Migos Ogamba in a statement.

Mr Ogamba emphasised the importance of continued dialogue to address issues affecting higher education without disrupting students' academic progress.

The government says the model, which focuses on equity and student-centred funding, has undergone several improvements based on inputs from various forums.

One key outcome from these discussions has been the integration of students into the model’s decision-making, the Ministry said.