Despite concerns about rising university tuition, the Ministry of Education assured Kenyans on Sunday that higher education would remain affordable.
Higher Education Principal Secretary Beatrice Muganda Inyangala revealed that university students would receive a minimum of Ksh40,000 per year for maintenance under the new university model.
According to the PS, the amount of upkeep will vary depending on the level of need of each student.Students from abled families will receive Ksh40,000 in upkeep funds, with the Ministry of Education covering 60% of educational expenses.
University students from low-income families will receive a generous Ksh60,000 in addition to the government funding for 95% of their undergraduate studies.
On the other hand, extremely needy students will have 90% of their higher education funded by the government, with an accompanying Ksh55,000 maintenance allowance.
Needy and less needy students will receive upkeep payments ranging from Ksh45,000 to Ksh50,000, with the government funding up to 80% of their education.
While the upkeep money will be used to cover the student’s personal expenses, PS Inyangala revealed that it was a loan that the student would have to repay upon completion of undergraduate studies.
PS Inyangala also informed students planning to attend university in September that the amount of household contribution would be communicated on August 5.
Regarding how the government would calculate household contributions for each student, the PS revealed that the Ministry had created various variables to determine the amount.
“A number of variables include poverty probability index of the student’s location; safety net data; parental income; nature of sponsorship at primary and secondary level if any; if an orphaned or single parent,” she explained.
President William Ruto previously stated that having parents contribute a portion of their children’s school fees was critical to the education system’s long-term viability.
Add Comment