ODM Senator Says New University Funding Model Is Confusing
Narok Senator Ledama Ole Kina has criticised President William Ruto’s new university funding model.
During an interview on Tuesday, August 20, 2024, Ledama stated that the university funding model is confusing and classifies students.
Ledama went on to say that the government’s three bands for allocating funds raise concerns about discriminatory education policies.
“The model of funding of the universities is based on three areas first you say you want to give them scholarships, number two you want to give them loans, number three you want the families to start contributing a certain percentage,” Ledama said.
Senator Ledama Olekina: The funding model for universities is confusing because it classifies learners, raising concerns about the discriminatory education policies #CitizenDayBreak @SamGituku pic.twitter.com/RF3ybiB7oT
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) August 20, 2024
“You further confuse it you say let us know to discriminate against the poor because in this country we do not have a proper system of identifying who is poor is rich then you say let’s create several bands, band one, the government will provide 70 percent scholarships to the extremely needy students then you go and say 25 percent will be given to that needy student as a loan.”
The lawmaker also accused the government of promoting classes of individuals in educational institutions under the new funding model.
“Then that needy student who can barely afford a pair of shoes is told to contribute five percent,” he added.
“What you are doing is that you are creating classes of individuals even in school they will be told what percentage is this government giving you 70 percent, so are the poorest we have to go away from that particular way of thinking.
“You are discriminating against the education policy introduced to its citizenry.”
Ledama proposed an alternative model of university funding, pleading with the national government to allocate funds to schools based on the number of students enrolled.
He also stated that each county should contribute a set percentage of its budget to education.
“I want to plead we go back to the capitation system where we locate money to universities based on the number of students they enroll,” Ledama said.
“I think it’s about time we delved deeper into the system of devolution where each county locates a certain percentage of money in education funding.”
President William Ruto defended the much-criticised funding model, claiming that it was primarily designed to benefit students from extremely poor backgrounds.
According to Ruto, the new model will eliminate block funding for universities and TVETs (Technical and Vocational Education and Training institutions) based on Differentiated Unit Cost.
Instead, funding will be more targeted, with needy students eligible for government scholarships of up to 53% and loans of up to 40%.
“Parents will only pay 7% of the total cost of their university education,” Ruto said.
ODM Senator Says New University Funding Model Is Confusing
