Education CS Julius Migosi Ogamba has reiterated that the new University funding model has progressed well, easing the financial challenges the higher institutions face.
Ogamba noted that so far over Sh41 billion has been disbursed to benefit about 240, 000 students through loans and scholarship, since introduction of the model in 2023.
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The CS also underscored the government’s commitment to addressing the financial crisis facing the universities in recent years, observing that the institutions of higher learning were indebted to a tune of Sh60 billion in 2023.
“Our public universities were indebted to a tune of Sh60 billion in 2023, where 23 out of 40 institutions had been declared technically insolvent,” he said.
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The introduction of the students’ funding model, he said, was designed to specifically address this challenge and restore our universities to a path of growth and sustainability.
The CS spoke at the Maasai Mara University, Narok County during the 12th graduation ceremony under the theme, Innovation on environment resource management and climate change mitigation for sustainable management.
To date, he continued, the university’s managements’ have reported that the new model is progressing well, easing the financial challenges, and placing them at a better position to pay their debts.
The CS confirmed that once the initial and formative challenges are addressed, the funding model will be the lasting solution to the financial challenges that the public universities are facing.
“It is for this reason that we are ready to keep improving the funding model, as it will guarantee the sustainability of our institutions and ensure that no deserving student is locked out of higher education,” he reiterated.
Ogamba appealed to the universities to be patient and accommodate the students as the government works to address the various challenges facing the implementation of the funding model.
He maintained that one of the critical roles of the university is research, and innovation saying the government is committed to fostering innovation through initiatives such as the Ajira digital and the Konza Technopolis, with a view to equipping young people to thrive in digital jobs.
The CS commended Maasai Mara University for championing the role of environmental conservation and encouraged individuals and other institutions to adopt and keep sustainable conservation practices.
“We need to adopt and keep sustainable practices like efficient resource utilization, biodiversity conservation, waste reduction and pollution control,” he said, urging all higher education institutions to address the pressing challenges of our time, which include the adverse effect of climate change.
The graduation ceremony was led by the second Chancellor of the varsity Dr. Vimal Shah and attended by Narok senator Ledama Ole Kina and Narok Women Representative Rebecca Tonkei among others.