That’s because they are awarded based on academic performance, not by financial need, for anyone else wondering. Honoring academic performance is the whole point of them.
The fact that the world’s initial reaction is “they don’t deserve it because they don’t need the money” is more of an indictment of the cost of higher education than it is of how scholarships are awarded.
Also, they have “scholarships” based on financial need, they are called Bursaries.
I wouldn’t say honour is the whole point. I think its a way to ensure young people are able to afford the opportunity, and to convince talented students to attend that particular school.
But, yeah, they’re for academic achievement, not academic achievement _and_having poor parents.
Better to fight for free education than against young people getting awarded for doing well in school.