Funding for Universities: PS Inyangala Describes Why So Many Students Are in Bands 4 and 5 and What to Do.
Beatrice Inyangala, principal secretary for education, gave an explanation of the faulty factors the government is using in the recently released education finance model on Tuesday.
The PS and her colleagues were put to the test to defend the funds during her appearance in the National Assembly due to protests from Kenyans, the majority of whom expressed dissatisfaction about being placed in bands 4 and 5 despite having lower household incomes.
Parents have been complaining for the past week that their kids have been put in a band where the top two bands require fees of Ksh67,000 and higher.
While the high school they attended served as a classifying feature, Inyangala acknowledged that the majority of the pupils were placed in Bands 4 and 5, even though the majority of them attended national institutions with tuition costs over Ksh53,000.
She added that the University Fund was dependent on the information submitted by the students and that some students who attended prestigious institutions with outside assistance—like harambees—were frightened to disclose their identities when submitting their applications.
For the time being, it is quite difficult for us to use income accurately to predict in the absence of trustworthy income statistics. But for the results of the students who are already starting university, I have information here from the National Examination Council,” the woman clarified.
“This data indicates that 84.8% of students who received a C+ (plus) or higher attended national schools. It is evident that national schools are the target audience for this admission.
Students in these national schools have to pay a minimum of Ksh53,000, and we are aware that there are additional fees. Inyangala continued, “Some of these youngsters attended private schools as well.
She added that even with the faulty criteria, the impacted children had not been able to prove that they are from low-income homes, which made it challenging for the school to identify which cluster best categorized them.
“When we use the secondary school that a student went to as an indicator and the students went to national schools and they have not demonstrated that they were funded through harambees or they had a guardian, then it becomes very difficult for us not use that variable as a discriminator,” she stated.
But that’s what makes it possible to file an appeal after that. Visiting a few selected pupils at their homes may also fall under this category.”
What to Do: During his appearance before the National Assembly, University Fund Chief Executive Officer Geoffrey Monari clarified that the classification was subject to change and urged families who were not happy with their cluster to submit a new application.
He went on to say that the Fund had sent representatives to the university to assist the students with their applications and to encourage those who lacked the financial means to apply to go to the relevant institutions.
Numerous kids who have been placed in Bands 4 and 5 have been categorized based on the information they have provided to us. We rely heavily on the data provided by the students.
“However, they have a chance to give us more information if they are not classified in the correct band,” he said.
Funding Bands
The government pays for 70% of the education expenditures of students in Band 1, which is designated for the most economically disadvantaged pupils, through scholarships and an extra 25% through loans, leaving only 5% for the family to contribute. This category of students is eligible to receive Ksh60,000.
For low-income households in Band 2, the government covers 90% of the entire cost of school with a 30% loan and a 60% scholarship. The 10% funding will be covered by the family, and pupils would earn Ksh 55,000.
Students in Band 3, whose families make between Ksh 23,670 and Ksh 70,000, are given a 50% scholarship and a 30% loan, with the family making up the remaining 20%. Additionally, students are qualified for a Ksh50,000 payout.
Families in Band 4 who make between Ksh70,000 and Ksh120,000 are expected to pay 30% of the tuition expenses, with the student receiving a 40% scholarship and a 30% loan.
Families in Band 5, when incomes exceed Ksh120,000, are required to pay 40% of the cost of education, receive a 30% loan, and are not eligible for scholarships.
Funding for Universities: PS Inyangala Describes Why So Many Students Are in Bands 4 and 5 and What to Do.
