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Last year’s Form Four examination candidates who qualified to join universities have 10 more days to apply for government funding.

In a statement, the Ministry of Education announced that it had extended the deadline for applying for government funding by another ten days, closing on August 15.

The statement, signed by Higher Education and Research Principal Secretary Beatrice Inyangala stated that out of the 153,275 Form Four candidates who qualified to join both public and private universities last year, government funding will only be available to those who successfully apply for the same.

“The Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) placed 153,275 students from the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) 2023 cohort in public and private universities. Government support will be available only to those who apply for funding,” said Inyangala.

She explained that under the new funding model, government support will be allocated based on individual student needs.
The PS added that beginning August 19, parents and guardians will receive information about their household’s contribution towards university fees.

She stated that as of August 4, a total of 79,038 university students had applied for both loans and scholarships but another 74,237 students were yet to apply, hence the extension.

Unveiling the new funding model last year, President William Ruto it was designed to primarily benefit students from extremely poor backgrounds.

He said the government will fully cater for education costs of vulnerable and extremely needy students who comprise 29 per cent of the student population joining university and TVETs through government scholarships, loans and bursaries.

“For the first time, students whose families are at the bottom of the pyramid shall enjoy equal opportunity in accessing university and TVET education. Their households shall not make any contribution towards the education of their children,” Ruto said.