The new funding model for universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) which has been passed to save the public universities and colleges from financial collapse is fast gathering pace.
The new model includes scholarships, loans and household contributions determined by a formula that categorises students as vulnerable, extremely needy, needy and less needy.
Students from the vulnerable category will get 82 per cent scholarships and up to 18 per cent loans. Parents will not be required to contribute in this category. In the extremely needy category, students will get 70 per cent scholarships and up to 30 per cent of loans with the parents not contributing anything.
While the structure has been touted by the government as good, critics have said it will overburden parents with costs and students with huge loans that they might struggle to pay back.
For needy students, they will receive 53 per cent scholarships with loans of up to 40 per cent while their will contribute seven per cent.
The less needy students are eligible for 38 per cent scholarships and loans of up to 55 per cent with families contributing seven per cent.
In order to qualify and be placed into either of the four categories, the government will rely on data from State agencies to determine a family's financial capacity. The data will involve tax returns, health insurance and retirement contributions.
The data, according to Universities Fund Chief Executive Officer Geoffrey Monari, will provide details of a student's financial background and family income.
The new model is different from the previous model where the government was expected to meet 80 per cent of the university fees while parents would pay the remainder.
Kenyans.co.ke gives a breakdown of how much parents will pay for popular courses in some of the reputable institutions.
Bachelor of Commerce
The course is one of the most common training in Kenyan universities. The University of Nairobi offers the course at a total sum of Ksh220,150 per year. If a child is in the vulnerable category, a parent will pay Ksh39,627. This is after the government provides a scholarship of Ksh180,523.
In the extremely needy category, parents will be required to pay Ksh66,045, comprising the 30 per cent loan and Ksh154,105 given as a scholarship.
For a needy student, parents will have to pay a household contribution of Ksh22,015 and hope that the government will provide the entire 50 per cent resulting to Ksh110,075 scholarship. In addition to the Ksh88,060 loan, the parents will pay a total of Ksh110,075.
Students in the Less needy category will pay a total fee of Ksh136,493. This is after the government provides a scholarship worth Ksh83,657, and loan worth Ksh121,083. Parents will contribute 15,411 in the scheme.
Medicine
The institution charging the lowest fees for this course is Egerton University pegged at Ksh337,940.
This means that parents whose students are in the vulnerable category will pay the least amount of Ksh60,829. Those in the Less needy category will in the long run pay the highest amount with Ksh209,523.
Also, depending on the type of institution, parents taking their students to Moi will have to pay an average amount of Ksh244,800.
Mass Communication
This is another marketable course for various students seeking to venture into the media industry. UoN offers an annual fee rate of Ksh240,550 with parents contributing Ksh16,838.
On the other hand, parents whose candidates will join KU, JKUAT and Moi will pay Ksh14,280.
Egerton, which offers Ksh233,440, will prompt parents to pay Ksh16,340.
From the table above, it's clear that parents in the needy and less needy category will have to pay the highest amount in the long run with charges averaging Ksh100,000.
Law
Parents whose children will want a law degree will have to dig deeper into their pockets with an average of Ksh80,000.
Under Bachelor of Law, JKUAT offers the highest annual fee rate at Ksh238,208 with parents paying Ksh16,674.
This is followed by UoN where they part with Ksh15,529 out of Ksh221,850.
KU and Moi offer the same rate at Ksh183,600 and parents will foot Ksh12,852. At Egerton, whose minimum cluster point for students seeking to study law is a mean grade B, will require the parents to contribute Ksh15,029.
Actuarial Science
Engineering
Engineering, considered one of the most reputable courses in the country, is one of the most expensive courses with an average annual fee rate of Ksh300,000.
Out of this, parents pay an average of between Ksh150,000 to Ksh200,000 in various institutions.
Architecture
According to the KUCCPS portal, the Bachelor of Architecture offered at JKUAT is the most expensive, costing Ksh367,200 per academic year.
At UoN, students intending to pursue the course would part with Ksh347,650 in a year, while Kenyatta University charges Ksh306,000.
Out of this, parents pay an average fee of between Ksh150,000 to Ksh300,000.
Computer Science
A bachelor of Science in Computer Science is one of the most expensive courses in various institutions with an average rate of Ksh306,000 for universities such as JKUAT, Kibabii University, Kirinyaga University, KU, Catholic University of East Africa (CUEA), and Rongo University.
Parents whose children are in the vulnerable category will pay the lowest amount with an average rate of Ksh50,000 while those in the less needy category will part with the highest amount with over Ksh150,000.
