By Dorothy Musyoka
The Ministry of Education has announced an extension for the funding application deadline for 2023 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) candidates who are set to join universities in the 2024/2025 academic year.
“We are pleased to announce that the application process has been extended by ten days, closing on 15th August, 2024.Under the new funding model,government will be allocated based on individual student need,” read the statement.
According to Principal Secretary state department for higher education and research Dr.Beatrice Inyangala the decision aims at ensuring that all eligible students have ample time to apply for government funding, and ensure that all eligible student benefit from the new funding model in which the government funding allocation is set to begin on 19th August 2024.
“Starting August 19, 2024 parents and guardians will be informed of the universities/household contribution towards the cost of university programmes,” noted Dr. Inyangala.
The PS pointed out that the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) has placed 153,275 students from 2023 KCSE cohort in both public and private universities.
Dr. Inyangala also emphasized that the government support will be only available for those who will apply for funding.
However the PS raised concerns for the students who are yet to apply for loans and scholarships urging them to make the applications.
“The government remains committed to providing quality and affordable education to students in universities as well as Technical and Vocational Education and Training institutions (TVETs).Under the Leave No One Behind frame work, we urge all students who have not yet applied for loans and scholarships to do so by visiting www.hef.co.ke,” Dr. Inyangala reiterated.
“The ministry of education opened the application portal for scholarships and loans for the 2023 KCSE cohort on June 18,2024.Since then, the process of applying for scholarships and loans has been ongoing .As of August 4, 2024 a total of 79,038 university students had applied for both loans and scholarships but 74,237 university students are yet to apply for funding,” she said.
President Ruto earlier defended the new higher education funding model, noting that the funding model benefits learners in public universities and Technical Training (TVET) institutions through government scholarships and financing from the Higher Education Loans Board.