Ministry of Education Directs New Fee Structures to Reach First-Year University Students by Monday.

The Ministry of Education has mandated all universities nationwide to ensure that first-year students receive the updated fee structures by Monday next week. This directive was announced by Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba in a statement issued on Friday.

File photo of Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba.

According to CS Ogamba, the new admission letters for the 2023 KCSE cohort have already been dispatched, in alignment with President William Ruto’s recent directive. These letters include revised fee structures for the first group of 125,893 students who have applied for financial aid through the student-centered model.

“President Dr. William Samoei Ruto on Wednesday, August 14th, 2024, instructed universities to issue new fee structures to first-year students, outlining the required annual household contribution towards the total cost of degree programs,” Ogamba stated. He emphasized that universities must ensure all first-year students receive these letters by Monday, August 19th, 2024.

The CS highlighted that the student-centered funding model is designed to provide scholarships and loans based on each student's individual financial need, categorized into one of five predefined bands. "The ministry remains committed to ensuring that student funding is distributed fairly and equitably, addressing the real needs of applicants. The evaluation criteria consider factors such as a student's family economic background, affirmative action, socio-demographic factors, and family education expenses," Ogamba noted.

In line with the government's commitment to accessible and affordable higher education, CS Ogamba revealed that Ksh.25.3 billion would be allocated for scholarships and loans to the students who have already applied for the 2024/25 academic year.

He urged eligible students who have not yet applied to do so immediately to ensure their applications are processed without delay. Ogamba reassured that the application portal will remain open, with additional applications being processed swiftly on a rolling basis.

This move by the Ministry underscores the government's dedication to supporting students' educational journeys through transparent and need-based funding.