PANDEMONIUM IN THE UNIVERSITY FUNDING .
Crisis befalls institutions of higher learning as the High Court ruled out the use of the new funding model. Justice Chacha Mwita pointed out that the case took long due to the delayed submission of by the government led by the Attorney General, CS Education Julius Ogamba and the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service. The model, which for a while now, has been questioned by many students and other stakeholders, has landed in the list of amendments facing rejection under the Ruto Regime.
The petition was tabled by three parties arguing that it is unconstitutional, and it goes against human rights. The solicitors led by Kenya Human Rights Commision (KHRC) argue that the process for launching the model was not followed correctly and due to its fast implementation students from less privileged backgrounds are on the verge of not accessing university funds. Elimu Bora Working Group and The Student Caucus insisted that it is unconstitutional, and it shifted the ball back to parents, yet the state should be the sole provider of education. With this, Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) and the University Fund were already tasked with ensuring funding in institutions of higher learning following the Maximum Differentiated Unit Cost as in the University Act.
Many students and other stakeholders say the government would have improved the Differentiated Model than integrating a new one. The model places students into 5 bands from vulnerable to the more vulnerable who will receive 85% funding. The model threatened to lock out students that completed school under the legal term minors, from receiving funds. In the previous model, parents’ details were used so that the student right to education could be achieved unlike as it is argued in the Variable Scholarship and Loan Funding. Student leaders led the continuing protests hailing that the model be scrapped.
Means Testing Instrument (MTI) has been questioned and how it establishes the different student’s needs. The case is to be mentioned again on 16th December 2024. The organizations fight to ensure the model is proclaimed null and void.
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