North Rift Muslim Leaders Fault New Education Funding Model
“The new funding model will make it harder for the students to secure financial support,”
Sheikh Abubakar Bini, a Muslim leader in North Rift
By Valary Makena
The Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya has expressed concerns over political leaders using bursaries for their own interests.
Sheikh Bini, the North Rift chairman of CIPK said to address the issue, the government should come up with a model that will ensure the bursary funds are allocated transparently.
He also termed the new higher education funding model as unfair to students from humble backgrounds.
“It is likely that education will become a basic need since the underprivileged are unable to afford their children’s school fees and education will now only be for the rich,” said Bini.
In addition, the Muslim leader criticized the government for not considering the poor when drafting the new funding model.
He claimed the current system introduced by the Kenya Kwanza administration is significantly more expensive compared to previous one. According to Bini, many students might be locked out of joining universities and colleges out due to the new funding system.
“The new funding model will make it harder for the students to secure financial support,” said the CIPK leader who noted that it might end up driving the cost of university education further high.
The new funding model combines scholarships, loans and household contributions. Categorization of a learner into one of the five bands is done scientifically.
The government argues that the new model ensures that all eligible Kenyan students receive adequate financial support for their education. However, critics claim it has made made the cost of education go high.
Already, the Ministry of Education has set up a committee to address concerns raised as far as the new model is concerned.
The model offers financial assistance to students pursuing higher education in universities and vocational education. The funding model also aims to address challenges faced by universities.
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