High Court to Rule on University Funding Model Today
The High Court is set to deliver a critical ruling today on the university funding model championed by President William Ruto, a project aimed at reforming the education sector.
The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) filed a petition last year challenging the model’s constitutionality and alleging it neglects the needs of financially disadvantaged students.
Petitioners have raised concerns over the confusion caused by the new model, particularly in the selection of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) courses.
They noted delays and a lack of clear guidance from the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS).
“The variable scholarship and loan funding model is arbitrary, obscure, expensive, undefined and illegality; an affront to the right to education as part of economic social rights,” part of the petition reads.
The KHRC and other groups opposing the model argue that its scholarship and loan structure is arbitrary, costly, and lacks transparency.
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They claim the model violates students’ right to education, an essential part of their economic and social rights.
Furthermore, the petitioners accuse the government of acting illegally in implementing the model, which they believe adversely affects hundreds of thousands of universities and TVET students, as well as their families.
Temporary Suspension of the Model
On October 3, 2024, Justice Chacha Mwita issued temporary orders halting the implementation of the funding model pending the case’s resolution. The court directed government officials, their agents, and employees to cease implementing the model until the petition is determined.
The new funding approach categorizes students into five groups based on their household income.
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Unlike the previous model, where universities received lump-sum allocations, the revised method distributes funds based on individual needs through a combination of scholarships, loans, and household contributions.
While the government views the model as a significant reform, critics argue it has failed to meet the expectations of students and parents. The ongoing legal challenge will determine the model’s future and its implications for education funding in Kenya.
High Court to Rule on University Funding Model Today
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