“Students Joining Private Universities Not Eligible For Gov’t Scholarship” – CS Machogu

Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu on Wednesday, May 17 cautioned students who sat for the 2022 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) intending to join private universities.

Speaking during the launch of the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) portal in Nairobi, Machogu stated that private university students would not be eligible to access government scholarships from the university fund as guided by the new funding model announced by President William Ruto. He noted that the students will only access government loans from the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB).

“If one wants to join a private university within Kenya, we will be able to place him or her there, but the government will not give them a scholarship.

“The scholarships will only be given to public university students. Those who wish to join private universities will only be eligible for loans from HELB,” said Machogu.

He however noted that students joining public universities will access both government scholarships and loans.

“The whole idea is premised on the fact each student should be treated on the level of their need and that no deserving student should be denied an opportunity to acquire higher education and training in the institution of their choice,” he added.

Machogu at the same time stated that the government partnered with Huduma Centers across the country to make the university application process easier.

“I have directed KUCCPS to partner with Huduma Kenya secretariat to ensure students can apply for their courses from all the 52 Huduma Centers countrywide. I understand the placement agency has already trained all relevant officers at Huduma Centres on how to offer necessary assistance to all students in the application process,” he went on.

He further stated that KUCCPS will send officers to selected universities to offer personalized support to students, parents, and members of the public.

Machogu at the same time announced that all the 869,782 candidates will be eligible to enrol in any institution of their choice, out of which, 173,127 candidates who attained the minimum entry grade of C+ will enrol for degree courses.

Those who attained a C grade and below will be absorbed in all Technical and Vocational Education Training Institutions (TVET) institutions across the country.

The Education CS further stated that all institutions have already met all conditions required to enrol students and have already published course fees for different study programmes on their websites.

“This will guide students to make choices based on the income levels of their households,” said CS Machogu.

Machogu added that at least 45,000 students from needy and vulnerable backgrounds will access free university education as the government will meet their full education costs.

In a press briefing at State House on Wednesday, May 3, President Ruto revealed that the new model will be student-centred and the funds will be channelled through scholarships and loans.

“This new funding model does not increase university fees. Under the new model, we are increasing the university allocation in the new financial year from Ksh54 billion to Ksh84.6 billion.

“Universities and TVETS will no longer receive block funding in the form of capitation based on a Differentiated Unit Cost. Funding to students shall combine scholarships, loans and Household contributions on a graduated scale,” he stated.

According to the Head of State, the new model will include students categorised into three: the Vulnerable, the Less Vulnerable and the Able.

Ruto noted that the government would issue full scholarships for vulnerable students, thus sparing their parents from the need to pay any amount for the education of the students.

However, for the students in the less vulnerable category, the government would offer them a scholarship that would pay up to 53 per cent of their education and issue them with a 40 per cent loan.

Those joining TVET institutions will receive scholarships of 50 per cent of their fees and 30 per cent in loans.

The less needy students who are joining university will get scholarships of up to 38 per cent of the cost of their education and loans of 55 per cent.