Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu has instructed the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) and the Universities Fund (UF) to initiate the funding application portal on June 15, 2024, enabling eligible students to submit their applications.
This directive comes in the wake of President William Ruto’s introduction in May of a revamped funding model for university and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) students in Kenya.
The model was developed following extensive consultations conducted by the Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms.
The new funding approach, termed the student-centered funding model, separates the process of university placement for first-year students from the funding mechanism.
Consequently, the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) has published the comprehensive fee structure for all declared courses in universities, alongside the cluster requirements for degree programs on its platform.
In Machogu’s words, “I direct the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) and the Universities Fund (UF) to open the Higher Education Funding portal on June 15, 2024, to allow eligible students to apply for funding.”
He further stated, “I wish to inform all parents, guardians, and students that the outcomes of the funding application process will be available from July 31, 2024.
First-year students are expected to report to their respective universities based on their admission letters and accompanying instructions.”
Machogu emphasized the need for universities and funding agencies to promptly commence awareness campaigns to educate students, parents, and stakeholders about the Student-Centered Funding Model.
Since its implementation for first-year students enrolling in universities and TVETs in September 2023, the model has garnered significant interest from students.
As of May 2024, Machogu reported that a total of 112,741 university students and 151,933 TVET learners had applied for scholarships and loans from the Universities Fund and HELB, respectively.
He disclosed, “A sum of Ksh24.76 billion has been disbursed for scholarships and loans to university students, while Ksh11.3 billion has been allocated to TVET trainees.”
Machogu highlighted a historic milestone, stating, “For the first time since the government adopted the cost-sharing policy in higher education, all 2023 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination applicants received financial assistance to pursue their desired programs in our universities and TVET institutions.”
As the second cohort of students prepares to benefit from the student-centered funding model, Machogu clarified the funding process.
Each degree program will be financed through three components: scholarships, loans, and parental or guardian contributions.
The allocation for each component will be based on the assessed level of need of each applicant.
He clarified, “Based on the placement outcomes, some universities have issued admission letters and fee structures for the courses displayed on the KUCCPS portal during the application phase.
However, it has come to the government’s attention that some parents or guardians have misconstrued this to mean they must pay the full fees as stated in the admission letters.”
Machogu concluded, “The government clarifies that the parental or guardian contribution for each student will only be determined after the student has applied for funding and undergone a needs assessment.
Subsequently, the amount of scholarship and loan required will be determined.”
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