Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos has issued new directives about the University Funding Model after students announced nationwide protests against the model.
Speaking after cutting short his trip from China, the CS said in his directives that the Ministry of Education will constitute two committees including representatives of students to work on the new recommendations for the funding model.
According to the Ministry, the committees will include members from the student leadership, education experts and all other relevant stakeholders to ensure all issues raised by beneficiaries are catered for.
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“For greater efficiency and to achieve meaningful student participation and involvement, the Ministry is consulting two time bound working committees that will draw membership from the student leadership, in addition to experts and other relevant stakeholders.”
The committees will review the status of implementation of the new funding model and make recommendations for its improvement to cool down the uproar that has been witnessed in recent weeks.
The government thus called on university students to call off their demonstrations scheduled for September 9, 2024, to give them time to contribute effectively to the issues pertaining to their education.
“In order to allow room for this open consultation, the university student leadership is requested to call off the demonstrations scheduled for 9th September, 2024.”
Key among the areas to be worked on by the committees will include appraisal of the new funding model for higher education, evaluation of the effectiveness of the means testing Instrument to ensure that categorization of students reflects their socio economic realities.
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The committees are also expected to work on the cost of programs studied in the universities across the country as well as review structure of student loans, interests paid and and the period for payment of the loans.