The Ministry of Education has urged university students to call off their planned Monday demonstrations over the new funding model for higher education.

Education CS Julius Migos Ogamba on Sunday said his ministry is setting up two committees that will engage the students and other stakeholders on the new controversial model. 

"In order to allow room for this open consultative process, the university student leadership is requested to call off the demonstrations scheduled for 9th September, 2024. This will afford the student community the chance to contribute effectively to issues pertaining to their higher education, while also progressing with their studies without disruption," CS Ogamba said.

He added that his ministry has been keen to engage students and stakeholders on the new funding model, with the aim of finding a favourable solution.

Ogamba said the committees to be formed will look into, among others, a review of the status of the implementation of the new funding model and make recommendations for improvement. 

The specific terms of reference for the working committees will focus on the appraisal of the implementation of the new funding model, evaluation of the effectiveness of the new testing instrument to ensure categorisation of the students properly captures their socio-economic status, and assessment of the efficacy of the appeals mechanism.

Further, the committees will analyse the cost of programmes in universities, and review the structure of student loans, their interest rates and the period of repayment. 

The two committees will draw membership from student leadership, experts and other relevant stakeholders. The committees will be time-bound, according to CS Ogamba. 

This comes amid planned protests by university students over the new higher education funding model, which many say is disadvantageous and is likely to lock many out from acquiring higher education. 

The new model delinks student placement with funding, thus requiring students to submit applications to the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) and Universities Fund (UF) for loans and scholarships, respectively. 

Funding of students now combines scholarships, loans and household contributions on a graduated scale that is scientifically determined by a means-testing instrument. The means testing instrument assesses eligible applying students into 5-bands.

President William Ruto, in drumming up support for the model, said that eligible students will get between Ksh.40,000 and Ksh.60,000 in upkeep based on their financial needs.

For instance, the most needy students will be placed in band one to access 70 per cent scholarship, 25 percent loan, 5 percent household contribution and Ksh.60,000 for upkeep.

The new model demands that only those placed to public universities by KUCCPS are eligible for scholarships and loans, while those in private entities only qualify for HELB loans