The Ministry of Education has issued a firm assurance that no student who has qualified for university admission will be turned away due to an inability to immediately pay the household contribution.
This directive was made clear in a press release from the Office of the Cabinet Secretary for Education, Julius Migos Ogamba.
In the release, the Ministry emphasized its commitment to ensuring that all students who have been accepted into universities are guaranteed a place in their chosen institutions, regardless of their financial situation.
The Vice-Chancellors of public universities have been directed to admit all qualified students without exception.
Furthermore, the Ministry has instructed Vice-Chancellors to facilitate suitable accommodation arrangements for first-year students, with the assurance that any outstanding fees will be settled once the upkeep component is disbursed.
The Ministry, in coordination with the National Treasury, is expediting the release of the necessary funds to ensure this promise is upheld.
The Ministry also addressed concerns regarding students with questions or appeals related to fees and funding.
Dedicated teams at universities will be available to assist students during the admission process.
Additionally, appeals can be made through the Higher Education Portal at www.hef.co.ke, with a processing period of three weeks from the date of application.
To accommodate students who may face delays, the deadline for applications has been extended to 31st December 2024.
The Ministry is open to recommendations from Parliament and other stakeholders on strengthening the new funding model and improving the Means Testing Instrument.
In pursuit of sustainable financing for higher education, the Ministry plans to collaborate with all relevant stakeholders to develop a legal and policy framework.
This framework aims to consolidate various bursary and scholarship schemes provided by entities such as the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF), County Governments, the Ministry of Education, and other public and private partners.
In closing, the Cabinet Secretary reaffirmed the Ministry’s steadfast commitment to providing quality education for all.
The Ministry will continue to work towards creating an inclusive, accessible, and equitable education system for every student in the country, ensuring that financial barriers do not hinder access to higher education.
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