Lawmakers calls for review of new funding model
Azimio team has faulted the newly unveiled university and colleges funding model, claiming that it has denied several students a chance to further their studies.
National Assembly Minority Leader, in a statement, wants the government to suspend the unveiled funding model citing that it will increase college dropouts and increase fee burden to parents amidst the hard economy.
Wandanyi also implored the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service to open another review window for several students who missed out on placement so that the students can be absorbed into ttertiary institutions.
He attributes the situation to the high cost of application which stands at Ksh.1500 and the risen tuition fees for government institutions.
The Ugunja MP accuses the government of mischief in rolling out the new model saying it intends to privatize institutions with the intention of extorting money from innocent citizens.
According to him, the government has not laid out accountability guidelines and disclosed the mode of repayment of loans and thus the model may inconvenience future graduates with hefty loans.
After struggling to raise money for fees students from poor households cannot rest assured of ready job market once they graduate from the university.
Wandanyi added that the aftermath of this hurried and bad policy altogether will be jobless graduates chocking in loans whose interest rates have not been disclosed or at worst students dropping out of college due to high cost of acquiring education.
In the new funding model, students will be put according to their financial and economic abilities with those deemed very needy receiving 100% government funding through scholarships and loans, while the needy will get 93% government funding with families paying 7%.
Those who do not fall under the very needy and Needy categories will meet up to 62% of the cost of their studies as government pays 28% of the cost.
There is a sudden rise and wide gap in fees for different courses in universities in comparison to the previous year which has raised a concern from Kenyans.
Lawmakers calls for review of new funding model
