Fix student funding woes

The university education funding crisis could have serious consequences if not adequately addressed. The major challenge is, of course, the government’s new model that has divided the students into various categories based on economic status.

However, the growing disinterest in pursuing university education sends a worrying signal. Quite shocking is the revelation that more than 42,000 candidates, who passed the 2024 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination and qualified, did not apply for university admission.

According to the Ministry of Education, only 201,695 out of the 244,563 candidates who attained the minimum university entry Grade C+ and above submitted applications.

Some students are opting out primarily due to financial constraints, confusion over the funding model, and uncertainty over the job market after qualification.

The funding model was meant to improve access, but it has created more problems. Some candidates, who qualified for the high-level professional courses, fearing the cost, have instead opted for cheaper general courses. But of serious concern are those who have abandoned higher education altogether.

Other students have decided to take the popular courses in technical and vocational training institutions, especially the Kenya Medical Training College. They are assured of more direct jobs and would, therefore, rather avoid the acute unemployment afflicting university graduates.

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has urged the unplaced candidates to take advantage of the continuous intakes in the various institutions.

The Higher Education Fund portal has been reopened, and students can apply for government scholarships and loans based on the Means Testing Instrument (MTI), which has been revised to improve accuracy and fairness in allocations.

Higher education funding should be streamlined to boost enrolment and the training of the high-calibre manpower the country needs for its development.