The National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) Committee has launched a strong campaign against a proposed unification of all public-funded bursary schemes into a single scheme to improve school financing.
Committee members issued a unified statement in the midst of an ongoing debate about overlapping roles among public institutions that fund education.
The argument gathered traction after a National Assembly caucus proposed combining bursary funds to address concerns about the newly implemented university funding scheme.
Committee Chairperson Musa Sirma MP Eldama Ravine emphasized the Fund’s impact and urged the people to support its continuation.
Chief Justice Martha Koome proposed consolidating bursary funds at the national and sub-national levels to mobilize resources for free tertiary education. The proposed funding model categorizes students based on socioeconomic status.
Koome proposed consolidating bursaries managed by Governors, Members of Parliament, and Members of the County Assembly to increase funding for colleges and universities.
Legislators advocated amalgamating and consolidating all scholarships and bursaries for needy students in order to address an apparent budget deficit in higher education institutions.
The proposed reforms aim to integrate the Higher Education and Loans Board (HELB) as well as all funding, including scholarships and bursaries, awarded by national and sub-national governors and lawmakers.
The funding model divides students into five bands based on eight variables, parents’ background, gender, course type, marginalization, disability, family size, and composition.
Also Read: CJ Koome Calls For Consolidation Of Bursaries, Education Made Free
