Ruto’s New Funding Model For Universities And TVET Well Thought Out
The Mt Kenya Times 
President William Ruto
By: Joseph Mutua Ndonga
Worth Noting:
- The other day president Ruto held a meeting at State House that brought together members of the team and other education experts.
- The Education Cabinet Secretary and other state officials he has entrusted with managing education matters and ensuring the rolling out of the new CBC curriculum goes on as planned were also present.
- In his speech, Dr Ruto focused on interventions meant to ensure education in the institutions of high learning is aligned to bottom-up economic model of the Kenya Kwanza government.
- In the new funding model unveiled by President, the students would be categorized according to four levels of need: Vulnerable, extremely needy, needy and less needy.
Since he assumed power, President William Ruto has been keeping the tab on the promises he made to Kenya during the electioneering period.
The challenges facing the newly introduced system of education-Competency-Based-Curriculum (CBC) – had topped the list.
The parents, guardians’ major concern were the high cost involved. It is beyond the reach of most of us.
The outgoing President Uhuru Kenyatta had turned deaf to this reality. The system had replaced the 8-4-4 introduced in 1985.
The system is not bad. Being skill and market based, it is equipping our children with relevant and enormous knowledge.
The skills acquired would help greatly the learners who opt to venture into self-employment after completing their studies.
President Ruto would give this matter priority. He set the ball rolling when formed and unveiled The Presidential Working Party On Education Reforms.
The team led by scholars, academicians and other stakeholders convened public hearings in 47 counties.
It later retreated to write the final report based on memorandum, papers presented and views and opinions collected and collated.
The other day president Ruto held a meeting at State House that brought together members of the team and other education experts.
The Education Cabinet Secretary and other state officials he has entrusted with managing education matters and ensuring the rolling out of the new CBC curriculum goes on as planned were also present.
In his speech, Dr Ruto focused on interventions meant to ensure education in the institutions of high learning is aligned to bottom-up economic model of the Kenya Kwanza government.
In the new funding model unveiled by President, the students would be categorized according to four levels of need: Vulnerable, extremely needy, needy and less needy.
He reiterated that his government will focus more in funding the education need of those at the bottom of pyramid.
I’m committed to ensure none of the student will be left out.
To meet this objective, he announced an increase of the budget for Universities and TVET education from Sh54 billion to Sh84 billion.
This once again demonstrated the commitment of the President to walk the talk.
The poor parents and their needy students now have reason to smile.
The funding of the education will be through government grants (scholarships), student loans, bursaries and household contributions.
The earlier initial media reports had indicated that the fate of education in the universities hangs in balance.
Reason? The president was not keen to support the education.
The stories would allege that his position was. The state would no longer fund the universities’ education.
The varsities will be expected to improvise innovative ways of generating thier own funds.
Those with no sources of income should shut down. The Helb loans will also be scrapped.
It is now clear these stories had been cooked and made in bad in faith.
I’m sure this was the work of his political rivals who were envious of big strides he had made towards addressing the challenges facing Kenyans.
They thought these half-truths and propaganda will help them to put him in a collision course with Kenyans.
During the campaigns, President Ruto reiterated that he was a beneficiary of grants and loans offered by the public Universities.
If you elect me as your President, I will strive to ensure the universities and TVETs were well funded.
Joseph Mutua Ndonga is a writer and political analyst based in Nairobi
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