MEPs say university selection criteria and funding model unfair

MPs opened loopholes in the government’s system of university placement and allocation of funds.

They argue that the system is unfair in terms of selection and that in some cases students from vulnerable families do not get any places.

Likewise, MPs say that many learners from marginalized regions cannot access higher education due to the strict thresholds required for university admission.

Education committee chairman Julius Melly highlighted the unfairness of expecting students from difficult areas to compete with those from other perceived favorable areas.

“You can’t compare a student taking an exam in an unfavorable situation and expect them to do favorably,” Melly said.

He highlighted that regions that fail to meet the required thresholds for specific courses are disproportionately affected.

“If this trend does not continue, learners in marginalized regions will suffer the most,” he added.

He used as an example a medical course that requires an average grade of straight A, noting that this will exclude students from marginalized areas since they might not meet the threshold.

For this reason, Melly said places like the Northeast could go for decades without a doctor.

Malava MP Malulu Injendi criticized the trend in university placement, pointing out that it increasingly favors wealthy families.

Principal Secretary of Higher Education, Beatrice Inyangala, addressing the committee regarding university placements and funding model, highlighted that the current policy bases student selection on performance.

She urged MPs to develop policies that provide equal opportunities to marginalized groups.

“We call on honorable members to help us create policies that support equal opportunities for marginalized students. The current policy, based solely on merit, seems biased,” Dr. Inyangala said.

MPs also raised concerns over the reliance of the university funding model on data from sources such as the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) and mobile network providers .

Lawmakers argued that this could disadvantage students in rural areas and those in informal employment sectors where formal enrollment is limited.

Lugari MP Nabii Nabwera questioned the accuracy of data collection, especially for students in rural areas with limited access to technology.

This was echoed by Kabondo Kasipul MP ​​Eve Obara who questioned the withdrawal of affirmative action policies that previously favored female students.

However, Dr. Inyangala explained that the new funding model assesses students and places them in financial aid brackets.

This, she said, determines the percentage of their university costs covered by scholarships, Higher Education Loan Board (Helb) loans and household contributions.

Charles Ringera, CEO of Helb, assured the committee that multiple data sources are used to verify applicant information.