Education CS Julius Migosi strongly defended the new university funding model, emphasizing its importance in addressing the diverse financial needs of students.
Speaking at the International Confederation of Principals in Mombasa County, Migos explained that the model is designed to cater to students from various economic backgrounds, ensuring equitable access to education. He acknowledged the concerns raised about the model and assured that the Ministry would address these issues in the coming weeks.
CS Julius Migos clarified that the university funding model has been in place for 29 years, but recent adjustments were made to the needs assessment instruments to better target government support. He emphasized that these changes aim to ensure that students who require the most assistance benefit the most from government funds.
The new model, introduced by President William Ruto, is designed to provide funding to university students based on their individual financial needs, ensuring a more equitable distribution of resources.
The new university funding model introduced by the government includes five bands that categorize students based on their families’ financial capacity. Education CS Julius Migosi explained that these bands were designed to ensure that families who can afford it bear a fair share of the educational costs, allowing government support to be focused on those who need it most. This tiered approach is intended to create a more equitable system where funding is distributed according to the financial needs of the students.
Education CS Julius Migos announced that the Ministry has developed a portal to facilitate the re-banding of students under the new university funding model. This portal allows students to appeal their band placement if they believe they have been incorrectly categorized.
Migosi affirmed that the Ministry is actively working to rectify any such issues promptly. He also reiterated the government’s commitment to achieving a 100 percent transition rate for every learner, ensuring that all students can continue their education without financial barriers.
CS Julius Migos assured that the issues with the new university funding model would be resolved within the next few weeks, emphasizing that every deserving student will be able to attend school as part of the government’s 100 percent transition policy.
His assurance came amid criticism from leaders like Narok Senator Ledama Olekina, who described the new model as confusing and argued that it creates unfair classes among students. Despite these concerns, Migosi remained firm in his commitment to address the challenges and ensure equitable access to education.
