Applications for Government Scholarships and Loans Decrease Despite Deadline Extension
Since the extension of the application period for government scholarships and loans under the new university funding model, the number of applications has decreased.
Since the deadline extension on September 6, only 23,113 students have submitted applications for scholarships and loans.
The University Funding Board reported that the previous application rate was 8,000 students per day; as a result, the daily average application rate has decreased to 1,500.
According to board data, 176,745 students in universities and 73,322 students in technical colleges have applied for funding thus far.
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This compares to the 153,632 applications that had been submitted by the 5th of September, two days before the initial funding application deadline.
However, Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu extended the application for funding by one month, which expires on October 7.
Following is an examination of the applications: Universities have accepted 103,423 applicants as scholars.
This indicates that approximately 36,684 college students have yet to register for government funding. On the other hand, approximately 73,322 students are enrolled in technical colleges.
According to CS Machogu, the purpose of the application procedure extension was to allow those who had not yet applied for funding to do so.
Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu announced the extension.
The limited uptake of funding opportunities during the extension period has raised questions.
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Geoffrey Monari, the chief executive officer of the Universities Fund, stated in a previous interview that it is conceivable that not all admitted students will be interested in government funding.
Monari stated that some able pupils may choose to pay their tuition.
Geoffrey Monari, the chief executive officer of the Universities Fund, emphasized that not all students necessarily require government financial support to cover their tuition fees.
While efforts will be made to include all eligible students in the application process before the deadline, it is not possible to mandate that every student accept the extended financial assistance.
The Higher Education Loans Board’s assessment of a student’s level of financial need determines how much money they will receive under the new financing model, which President William Ruto unveiled in May.
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In contrast, the former model provided funding to all students at public and private universities who achieved a grade of C+ or higher and were admitted under a government sponsorship program using the differentiated unit cost.
The model went into effect this month when the KCSE class of 2022 entered universities for the first time, phasing out the 33-year-old funding model.
Students enrolling in public universities will not receive automatic government funding as they did under the previous model.
In lieu of this, they will be required to apply for a government scholarship, loan, or both to cover their tuition costs.
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Applications for Government Scholarships and Loans Decrease Despite Deadline Extension
