Students are set to return to school tomorrow, but there’s no assurance that all will make it to class. The new education funding model has already locked thousands of learners out of quality education, and the impending teachers' strike threatens to worsen the situation.
Kenyans rightfully aspire to quality and accessible education, but the current funding system deepens socioeconomic inequality. That’s why, on October 13, 2023, the Elimu Bora Working Group, Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), and the Students’ Caucus took legal action to dismantle this unjust model.
Despite raising critical concerns, which are evident as countless students struggle to access education, bureaucratic red tape has delayed the case’s hearing, with a mention set in November this year, more than a year since the petition was filed. For a matter so crucial to the integrity of Kenya’s education system, the courts must act with the urgency it demands by giving an expedited hearing.
Kenya should know that our education sector took a tragic turn the moment the government introduced a new education funding model, also known as the Variable Scholarship and Loan Funding (VSLF) model, on May 3, 2023. The model started forcing students to individually apply for loans and scholarships, with eligibility determined by a flawed Means Testing Instrument (MIT).
While intended to categorize students based on need, the instrument lacks a scientific basis, excluding many young people, especially those under 18. The alarming number of students unable to secure loans or scholarships highlights a funding model that was poorly conceived and fails to protect young people from systemic exclusion—a persistent feature of Kenya’s governance.
The problem is so dire that the government has recognized that many students cannot access financial assistance and urged them to report to universities and colleges, promising they will be allowed to attend classes without upfront payment. However, this is setting students up for failure. University policies still require partial fee payment for course registration, meaning many students will be barred from attending classes, just as happened last year when similar promises were made, and many students were ultimately forced to drop out.
Consolidation of bursaries
We all envision a country where quality education is accessible to everyone, regardless of socioeconomic status. That is why The Elimu Bora Working Group supports the consolidation of bursaries and calls for the establishment of a National Education Fund to centralize all education sector funds, including the consolidated bursaries. With proper governance, this fund could be a foundation for building a future where no Kenyan is required to pay privately for education at any level.
Teachers’ strike
Adding to the crisis of the funding model is the looming teachers' strike. Having already lost valuable time to floods, a strike would further disrupt learning. The government, through the Ministry of Education, must act swiftly to avert this disaster by engaging teachers in honest dialogue and offering practical solutions to their collective bargaining agreements. It is the government's responsibility to honor CBAs and prevent this crisis. The ball is in the government’s court to meet the teachers' demands and ensure that learning continues uninterrupted.
