President William Ruto now wants all universities in the country to allow students with fee arrears to sit for end of year examination.
Speaking at the Scott Christian University graduation ceremony on Friday, Ruto urged all university Vice-Chancellors to be understanding and patient with such students.
He noted that this is even as the government is working on fully disbursing their scholarship funds, in addition to navigating the challenges brought about by the student-centred higher education model.
“As we navigate the changes brought about by the transition to the student-centred Higher Education Financing Model, I urge universities to exercise patience and understanding with students. This spirit of humane consideration is especially critical given the additional challenge posed by litigation, which could disrupt the implementation of the model.
“Therefore, I appeal to universities to allow students to sit for their end-of-semester examinations while awaiting the resumption of full disbursements once the court provides direction on the matter,” Ruto said.
The President insisted that universities should not deny any student the opportunity to learn and succeed based on their financial background.
Ruto stressed the need to provide all learners with equal opportunities, stating the university heads must ensure that every student is treated with care, regardless of their financial situation.
He reiterated that the government is working on a solution to address the challenges universities are facing as they transition from the previous funding model to the new student-centered funding model.
The Head of State affirmed his administration’s commitment to providing strong and reliable support for both public and private universities, ensuring that higher education continues to thrive.
“It is for this reason that we have been deliberate in our efforts to resolve the financial crisis that brought our public universities to their knees. By 2022, public universities were grappling with immense financial challenges, having accumulated debts exceeding Sh60 billion. Of the 40 public universities, 23 were technically bankrupt and at risk of closure.”
by BRIAN ORUTA