Ruto PS under fire after explaining new university funding model bands

Higher Education Principal Secretary (PS) Beatrice Inyangala has sparked a debate online after she explained how parents will be paying university fees under the new university funding model.

In a statement via X on Friday, August 17 night, Inyangala said the new model categorizes students into five bands based on family income.

Band 1 is for families with a monthly income up to Sh5,995 while Band 2 covers families with a monthly income up to Sh23,670.

Band 3 is for families with a monthly income up to Sh70,000 and Band 4 is for families with a monthly income up to Sh120,000.

Families with a monthly income above Sh120,000 have been categorized in band 5.

PS Inyangala noted that in band 1 the government scholarship will cover 70 percent of the university fees, with the loan covering 25 percent and the family will contribute 5 percent. Students in band 1 will also be given an upkeep loan of Sh60,000.

In band 2, the government scholarship will cover 60 percent of the fees, the loan will cover 30 percent and the family will contribute 10 percent.

Students under this band will access an upkeep loan of Sh55,000.

The Education PS highlighted that students in band 3 will get a scholarship covering 50 percent of the university fees, a loan covering 30 percent of the fees and their families will pay for the remaining 20 percent of the fee. The upkeep loan in this band will be Sh50,000.

On the other hand students in band 4, would receive 40 percent in scholarships and 30 percent in loans, while the remaining 30 percent of the fees would be covered by the family.

The bands did not sit well with netizens who said that some students have been placed in bands not matching income of their families.

A section of X users termed the new funding model unreasonable and asked the government to revert to the old model.

“Rubbish” MP Babu Owino said.

PS. You did a bad job. Very needy students are being placed in BAND 4 and 5. You don’t have scientific tools to place students based on social-economic needs. You’re placing them randomly. You’re the people affecting President William Ruto. It is absurd that several needy… Abuga Makori

Oppressive and terrible model, a student whose parent is a primary school teacher is placed at band 5???

Now like it’s a punishment to earn more if your kid excels whereas it should be a relief. Horrible model mkae tu mkijua ka serikali, Egline Samoei said.

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This model will cause students have huge debts. The old model was the best a student whichever course graduating with a loan of 120k not 480k-600k. If Ruto wants to destroy education like that of his children let him look for another Kenya. Nyabasa Danvas said.

What Daktari with all her titles is not telling you is that this model is Pro Rich, and Anti poor.

The more the loans you take, the more the years you shall take to clear them. Straight from American playbook.

If you’re poor, you can’t study Medicine (30K/yr) only Arts (3k/yr).

Payas said.

It would be better to use the average income for most households in kenya statistically which is about 20k meanging that 90% of the students should be in band 2 therefore just standize the entire school fee on that parameter and allow for loans and scholarship. collins Asega

You guys don’t verify anything, you just place students randomly. I am sure of it. I have someone who’s supposed to be in band 2 and has been placed in 5. Momanyi SM

I don’t support this Model at all What makes you think in a family where the income is 70k for instance will be able to fund education do you look at other factors which may derail the funding you might find they have a sick relative or the number if kids are more than one Think!

— MUSILU 🇰🇪 🇨🇦

I know of a needy student who has been placed on Band 4 I don’t know what criteria you people used it’s such a shame. Franklin Mokaya

This Funding model will bring down our university education,even my fellow villagers know this. Ogeto Nyamwange

You have no scientific tool to put families in these bands, a terrible model that is already killing education in Kenya

— Kachwanya

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