A total of 104,158 students who sat 2023 KCSE had received the new First-Year admission letters to various universities as on Friday August 16, 2024.
This comes after the Education Cabinet Secretary (CS) Julius Migos Ogamba last Friday announced that all universities were in the process of releasing new letters to all the first batch of 125,893 students who had applied for loans and scholarships under the student-centred model, adding that the ministry had directed all universities to ensure all letters have reached all by Monday August 19, 2024.
According to the statistics released last Friday, Kenyatta (6,532) and Maseno (6,336) universities were leading in terms of releasing their admission letters to first year students. They were followed by Kisii University (5,975), the University of Nairobi (5,780), and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), which had issued a total of 5,568 admission letters to their first year students.
Others included: Chuka University (4,006), Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (4,990), Moi University (4,580), Kirinyaga University (3,591), Karatina University (3,476), University of Kabianga (3,099), Egerton University (3,719), University of Eldoret (3,575), Embu University (2,524), Laikipia University (2,077), Tom Mboya University (2,068), Meru University of Science and Technology (2,591), Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (2,099), Machakos University (2,344), Murang’a University of Technology (2,241), Maasai Mara University (2,499), and Rongo University (2,569).
Others are: Co-operative University (1,577), Technical University of Kenya (1,543), Dedan Kimathi University of Technology (1,648), Bomet University College (1,724), Tharaka University (1,724), Kaimosi Friends University (1,400), Kibabii University (1,951), Koitaleel Samoei University of Science and Technology (1,117), Pwani University (1,635), South Eastern University of Kenya (1,483), Multi Media University (1,546), Technical University of Mombasa (1,219), Taita Taveta University (974), Turkana University College (633), Alupe University (660), Mama Ngina University College (582), Open University of Kenya (254), and Garissa University (220).
Migos noted that students have been awarded scholarships and loans according to the level of need, consistent with any one of the five predetermined bands, reaffirming the government’s commitment to quality and affordable higher education since it is set to disburse Ksh25.3 billion in scholarships and loans to the 2024/2025 students who had applied.
In the new higher education financing model, the first band will see the government financing 95 per cent of the University Financing Model, and 92.5 per cent Financing in the Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET). Those who will be admitted to university under this band will receive scholarships at a rate of 70 per cent, loans at 25 per cent while the household will pay 5 per cent.
Students under this category will receive an upkeep of Ksh60,000. Those who will be admitted in TVET institutions under this band will receive scholarships at 70 per cent, loans at 22.5 per cent, while households under this band will pay fees at 7.5 per cent. Students under this category in TVET institutions will receive an upkeep of Ksh18,600.
In the second band, the government will finance 90 per cent of university education and 88 per cent TVET financing. In universities, students under this band will receive scholarships at 60 per cent and loans 30 per cent, while the household will pay 10 per cent. In this band, students will receive an upkeep of Ksh55,000.
For TVET, scholarships will be at 60 per cent and loans at 28 per cent, while household will cater for the cost at 12 per cent as students get an upkeep of Ksh17,600.
Band three will see the government foot 80 per cent of the cost in university while in TVET it will foot 82 per cent of the cost. In University Financing under this band, scholarships will be 50 per cent and loans 30 per cent, while household will pay 20 per cent with students getting an upkeep of Ksh50,000. For TVET, scholarships will be 50 per cent, loans 32 per cent, and household 18 per cent while upkeep will be Ksh15,600.
Under Band Four, government financing will be at 70 per cent while TVET financing will be at 78 per cent. This will entail scholarships and loans at 40 per cent and 30 per cent, with households paying 30 per cent. Students in this band will get an upkeep of Ksh45,000. In TVET, scholarships and loans will be at 40 per cent and 38 per cent respectively, while households will pay 22 per cent, with students in this band getting an upkeep of Ksh14,600.
In Band 5, the government is going to finance 60 per cent of university education and 73 per cent in TVET. In University Financing, both scholarships and loans will be at 30 per cent with households paying 40 per cent of the cost, as students receive an upkeep of Ksh40,000. For TVET, scholarships and loans will be at 30 per cent and 43 per cent respectively while households will pay 27 per cent. Students in this band will get an upkeep of Ksh13,600.
By Roy Hezron
You can also follow our social media pages on Twitter: Education News KE and Facebook: Education News Newspaper for timely updates.
>>> Click here to stay up-to-date with trending regional stories
>>> Click here to read more informed opinions on the country’s education landscape
YOU MAY ALSO READ:
Government urged to fund medical students in private varsities
