MKU FOUNDATION HOSTS FORUM ON EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS AND FUNDING

Mount Kenya University (MKU) Foundation  recently   hosted a breakfast forum on scholarships and funding in  Nairobi. The event brought together government and non-governmental players. The main aim was to discuss on ways of enhancing partnerships that will improve access to higher education particularly to bright students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

Among the participants were: Higher Education Loans Board (HELB), National Government Constituency Development Fund Board, Universities Fund, Equity Group Foundation, Plan International, Hope Worldwide, Islamic Relief-Kenya, Amara Charitable Trust, Digna Foundation, Elimisha Trust, Affecto Foundation, I & M Bank Foundation, Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA), Murang’a County Government, Teach For Kenya, Akothee Foundation, Compassion International, Equip Africa Institute and Openda Foundation.

New funding model

The forum came on the backdrop of the recent roll-out of the new variable scholarship and loan funding model for university students. The new funding model is set to bring changes in how university students receive scholarships from the government.

Previously, the government was funding university students through a differentiated unit cost (DUC) model where its contribution to public universities was expected to be 80 percent. But in light of changing costs of mounting academic programmes and economic circumstances, the highest the government could afford was 66 percent. This is according to Geoffrey Monari, CEO Universities Fund who graced the forum.

In 2022, the government could only raise 44 percent. It was therefore prudent to introduce a new model that uses a means  testing instrument (MTI) to ensure university students receive government funding based on their financial abilities to pay fees. “The model we have now is student-centred ,”  said Mr. Monari. “ Foundations such as this one by MKU are doing a good job in supplementing the government’s efforts of ensuring no child is left behind.”

Association in the wings

The breakfast forum was co-organized by the Non-Governmental Organizations’   co-ordination Board and MKU Foundation. Among  the   key discussions was the possibility of establishing an association of grant makers and benefactors in education.

The association will be a common, unified  and    unequivocal voice in the area of scholarships and funding.  Its  membership   will be drawn from government bodies, NGOs with programmes in education, industry alliances, foundations, trusts and individual benefactors.

“We shall use the association as a lobby for a possible future inclusion on the table of educational financing decision policy makers,” MKU Foundation executive director John Koigi said. “We shall also meet periodically to populate reports and measure the impact and success of our educational funding programmes.” He further added that the association will also explore the possibility of establishing a joint scholarship fund which will be administered by a secretariat.

In the forum, it was noted that the national government through the NG-CDF  had awarded scholarships worth Kshs. 57 billion in the last five years.  In  the  same  vein,  HELB had disbursed over Kshs. 131 billion to 1.3 million students in the same period.

The  chairman of KEPSA Education Sector Board, Dr. Vincent Gaitho, challenged the two government bodies to set up a revolving fund to ensure the money is paid back by the beneficiaries so that it is made available for the next generation. “Even if the money is interest-free, beneficiaries should be made to pay it back,” he noted.

Equity Group Foundation’s Kevin Lubembe bemoaned the lack of adequate information on available scholarships especially for those who have just written their KCSE exams. “We should double our efforts in dispensing information particularly to the bright students in rural areas,” he said. “We should explore ways where we expose students to scholarships and funding beyond their first year of education.”

On his part, NGO’s board executive director Mutuma Nkanata hailed  the  NGOs with programmes in education for the role they play in ensuring young people receive education. “The future of the country is pegged on how well educated our students are,” he remarked.

Inspiring

During the forum, Esther Akoth of Akothee Foundation granted Milly Nafula Kshs. 50,000 for her upkeep. Nafula who is a bachelor of medicine and surgery (MBChB) student at MKU was granted a full scholarship by MKU Foundation in 2022.

Nafula had stayed out of school for  fourteen   years despite scoring an A- (minus) grade in her Kenya Certificate of Secondary School (KCSE) exams. In despair, she was working at a poshomill, abandoning her dream of becoming a medical doctor. Having lost her mother  – the sole bread winner –  she had no choice but to fend for her siblings.

MKU Foundation, through its patron Prof. Simon Gicharu responded to her plight and awarded her a full scholarship valued at Kshs. 3.5 million. She then joined MKU Medical School at Thika main campus in September, 2022 to pursue her dreams. “I wish to thank Akothee for the donation and as I have promised all my other donors, I will not let you down,” said Nafula. “I will work hard and ensure I attain my dream of being a medical doctor.”