Government has assured the public that no deserving student will be denied access to higher education due to financial constraints, following the approval of revised tuition fees for public universities.
Speaking in Parliament on Friday, Minister of Education, Science and Technology, Honourable Bright Msaka, SC, said Government has increased funding for the Higher Education Students’ Loans and Grants Board and strengthened the beneficiary selection process to ensure that more needy and deserving students benefit from loans and grants.
Msaka said the enhanced support is intended to cushion vulnerable students from the impact of the revised tuition fees, while ensuring that access to higher education remains equitable. He noted that Government has already set aside resources to provide loans and upkeep allowances for 38,000 students in public universities.
The Minister explained that the tuition fee adjustment was approved after public universities reported a funding gap of between 40 and 60 percent of the actual cost of training students, which has affected teaching and learning resources, laboratory and ICT facilities, infrastructure maintenance, student welfare and research.
He said Government approved the least costly of three proposals submitted by the universities a 100 percent adjustment of the current tuition fees which will take effect in the 2026/2027 academic year.
According to Msaka, the additional revenue will help improve teaching and learning, strengthen practical training, enhance research and innovation, upgrade infrastructure and promote the long-term financial sustainability of public universities.
The Minister reaffirmed Government’s commitment to expanding access to quality higher education, noting that the country has recorded its largest public university intake this year, with more than 20,600 students admitted into public universities and colleges.
He emphasized that the fee adjustment, coupled with expanded student financial assistance, reflects Government’s commitment to building an inclusive, equitable and sustainable higher education system.
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