NAIROBI, Kenya- Kenya’s higher education system is facing fresh criticism, as the Elimu Bora Working Group has called for the immediate disbandment of a newly appointed 129-member committee reviewing the controversial university funding model.
In a fiery statement on Sunday, the group urged the Ministry of Education to revert to the previous funding model, warning that the current system is locking out hundreds of thousands of students from pursuing higher education.
At the heart of the debate is the government’s recently implemented funding structure, which Elimu Bora describes as an “experiment” with real-life consequences for students.
“Our students should not be subjected to experimental policies that jeopardize their education,” the group’s statement emphasized. They argue that the new model has failed spectacularly, making education unaffordable for many.
And the numbers back them up. In 2023, nearly 600,000 eligible students skipped university placement, with more than 23,000 students who met university entry requirements opting out of applying altogether.
According to Elimu Bora, the new model makes higher education a luxury many can’t afford .
But it’s not just university students feeling the pinch. The funding model’s rigid structure has also left thousands of diploma and certificate students out in the cold.
The group reports that 136,592 students eligible for diploma courses, along with 249,149 qualified for certificate programs, were unable to continue their education.
These students were placed into funding bands that didn’t match their financial realities, effectively shutting the door on their academic aspirations.
The lobby’s call for action is clear: ditch the current system and reinstate the old funding model, which they believe was far more accessible and equitable.
In response to growing discontent, President William Ruto appointed a national working committee on September 16 to review the new university funding model and recommend improvements.
The 129-member committee has been tasked with assessing several aspects of the funding system, including the recategorization appeals process, the cost of university programs, and the structure of student loans .
However, Elimu Bora isn’t convinced that another review committee is the answer.
“We don’t need a committee to confirm that the new university funding model is terrible and hurts our children,” the group stated, expressing frustration over what they view as unnecessary delays in fixing a system that’s already showing its flaws.
