State urged to award scholarships to students in private universities

A graduation robe and sash. [Getty Images]

The government has been urged to consider extending scholarships to students pursuing Medicine in private universities.

Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) Board Chairman Simon Gicharu, said since Medicine is offered in only a few universities, students should be allowed to enrol in private institutions and receive scholarships.

"Students who choose to study medicine, a course not widely available in all our universities, and are admitted to private institutions should be provided with scholarships to pursue their studies," said Prof Gicharu.

President William Ruto unveiled the new funding model in May 2023 to help address the university funding crisis.

The model phases out the Differentiated Unit Cost (DUC) model and will ease the financial burden on universities whose pending bills have ballooned to more than Sh70 billion

Prof Gicharu, who also serves as the chairman of Mount Kenya University (MKU) Board of Directors, made the remarks during the handover ceremony of the newly constructed university mosque and the renovated Students Centre at the Chancellor Towers grounds.

"We believe that vulnerable students aspiring to study Medicine at MKU, the only private university in the country offering this course, should receive government sponsorship," he said.

On the new funding model for higher education, he said: "It would be inaccurate to claim that the new funding model has significantly affected our operations."

According to the model students in public universities will receive scholarships and loans while those in private institutions will be eligible for loans to cover their costs.

"For example, if a course costs Sh300,000, students in private universities will be able to pay the fees using the loan. The real issue has been a lack of clear communication, and the government needs to make efforts to clarify this matter," said Gicharu.

He explained that the decision by MKU's leadership to build a mosque, which will serve over 7,000 Muslim students, was intended to demystify religious norms and foster cohesion among Kenyans from diverse backgrounds.

The MKU Students Association, led by chairman Eric Ochieng, appealed to the government to review the funding model to alleviate the financial burden on learners, particularly those in private institutions.