The University Funding Board wants students from rich families to pay more fees to bridge the budget deficit facing institutions of higher learning
The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) will vet students, with those from rich backgrounds locked out, before disbursing the loans
UFB, which has the backing of the National Treasury and vice chancellors, want allocations to reflect students’ income status.
The University Funding Board (UFB) has proposed a new fee model for government-sponsored students.
In the new proposal, the Board wants students from rich families to pay more fees to bridge the budget deficit facing institutions of higher learning.
UFB, which has the backing of the National Treasury and vice chancellors, want allocations to reflect students’ income status.
“This policy brief recommends a gradual introduction of targeted free tuition to shift the burden of higher education funding to only needy and bright students,” UFB said, as reported by Business Daily.
The government will pay 80% of the cost of degree fees under the new model, up from the current 48%. Students under the programme will pay an average of KSh 28,000 annually.
However, this will benefit needy and bright students, with students from rich families expected to pay full fees or a larger share.
The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) will vet students, with those from rich backgrounds locked out, before disbursing the loans.
The scholars gave an example of Kabarak where students in primary pay KSh 175,000 annually and KSh 200,000 in secondary but pay just KSh 50,000 when they enrol in university under government sponsorship.
Kenyan universities budget deficit
Kenyan public universities are struggling to remain afloat due to underfunding.
For instance, in the 2021/2022 financial year, the exchequer released KSh 47.39 billion out of the KSh 87.31 billion budgeted.
The Treasury rejected requests from universities for additional funds, asking them to review fees instead.
