Kenya’s President William Ruto has announced a new funding model for universities and Technical and Vocational Training Institutions (TVETs) in the country. The announcement was made on 22 April 2023 while he was on his tour of Meru County.

The new funding model aims to address the challenges faced by institutions of higher learning, such as inadequate resources, low quality of education, and high cost of education for students.

Currently, the government provides a capitation of Ksh 30,000 per student per academic year, with the remaining balance expected to be funded by the student’s personal finances or a loan from the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) where a student can get up to Ksh 40,000 per academic year.

Under the new funding model, the government plans to double the resources allocated to universities and TVETs. A new mechanism for financing higher education, from colleges to universities, will also be introduced in May. The president emphasized that the quality of education should not be compromised due to funding challenges, and this move aims to improve the quality of education provided in the country.

Furthermore, the government plans to hire 1,300 more TVET trainers and pay them directly from the government’s coffers. This move aims to boost the quality of technical education in the country, which is necessary to meet the demands of the ever-changing job market.

The president’s announcement is a positive step towards addressing the challenges faced by the education sector in Kenya. This move will help to increase access to quality education for students and improve the quality of technical education in the country. With the government’s commitment to financing education, students will no longer be burdened by the high cost of education and will be able to focus on their studies.