New University Funding Model Is Bad News for Education CS Machogu
In May of this year, the government of Kenya, under the leadership of President William Ruto, introduced a novel approach to funding educational institutions, with a particular focus on universities.
This new program aimed to address financial disparities among students by categorizing them into different financial need categories: vulnerable, severely needy, needy, and less needy.
Under this system, eligible students falling within these categories would have access to loans and sponsorship provided by the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB).
However, students who do not fall within these categories would not be eligible for these forms of financial support.
Recently, a development of significant concern has emerged. A lobby organization has taken the government to court, challenging this educational funding decision.
This news has sent shockwaves through the education sector, with Ezekiel Machogu, the secretary of the Education Cabinet, particularly alarmed by this turn of events.
The organization leading this legal challenge is the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC). On Tuesday, October 24, KHRC submitted a plea to the High Court, seeking to halt the implementation of the new model for university funding.
Their argument revolves around the claim that implementing this model would be prohibitively expensive for the government and, by extension, for the nation as a whole.
This legal petition not only raises questions about the financial viability of the program but also touches on broader issues of human rights and access to education in Kenya.
The outcome of this legal battle will be closely watched by the education community, policymakers, and the general public, as it has the potential to shape the future of university funding and student support in Kenya.
President William Ruto’s government will need to defend its new model in court, and the decision made by the High Court will have far-reaching consequences for the country’s higher education system.
