MPs question effectiveness of Ruto's new varsity funding plan

Members of Parliament are questioning President William Ruto's new university finance strategy, asking for answers about its performance.

While seeking a statement in Parliament, Samburu West MP Naisula Lesuuda enquired about the efficiency of the new model, a study of the beneficiaries since its commencement, and a report demonstrating equitable fund distribution since its establishment.

Altogether, the lawmakers also wanted the Ministry of Education to demonstrate the systematic problems that have made it difficult for the system to operate smoothly. In the lawmakers' quest, they also asked whether any attempts have been made to educate parents, guardians, and students on how the model works.

To demonstrate its seriousness, the National Assembly's education committee has already summoned Principal Secretary Higher Education and Research Beatrice Inyangala and the University Funding (UF) management to appear before it on Thursday next week to answer questions about the model.

"Concerns have emerged regarding the effectiveness of this new funding model. There is widespread anxiety among students and parents about its application," Ms Lesuuda said.

The lawmaker went further to point out that the categorisation of students into bands has raised uncertainty about access to funding by needy students.

The MPs also raised concern that as it stands now, public universities are grappling with debts and budget deficits, bringing into question the ability of the model to address deep-rooted challenges while at the same time maintaining equitable access to higher education for every student.

Lesuuda wants a report on the application of the new funding model on public universities and TVETs, including analysis and categorisation of the beneficiaries in the five bands, to ensure that it does not disadvantage the neediest.

The PS will also be required to provide a clear breakdown of universities' fees, specifying what will be payable by parents and the amount to be offset through government funding.

"What are the safeguards in place to ensure that the model does not roll back the gains made towards realising a 100 per cent transition from secondary to university and TVET education?" The MP posed.

"What are the measures put in place to ensure the high fees indicated in the university admission letters do not bar needy students from admission to public universities including publicly sponsored students admitted in private universities," she added.

National Assembly Education Committee chairman Julius Melly said they are concerned with the matters raised about the model and that they expect to get answers on Thursday next week.

"As a committee, we are seized of the matter and we have already invited PS Higher Education, the CEO University funding board and the CEO Higher Education Loans Board to our committee on Thursday," Mr Melly said.

The new model is currently in its second year of implementation. It has faced several challenges including late disbursements from the National Treasury to the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) and the University Fund.

The funding model divides applicants into five bands: Band one includes students from homes with a monthly income of less than Sh5,995. Band two includes families with monthly incomes ranging from Sh5,995 to Sh23,670, and band three includes households earning Sh23,671 to Sh70,000. Students in band four come from households with monthly incomes ranging from Sh70,001 to Sh119,999, while those earning Sh120,000 are categorised as band five.