Education Experts Fault Ruto’s University Funding Model for “Overtaxing Parents”
Education experts strongly criticized the new university funding model announced by President William Ruto on Wednesday at the foot of State House in Nairobi.
President Ruto stated that only deserving and needy students will be funded by the State to pursue degree, diploma, and certificate courses in universities and TVET institutions, while those from relatively well-to-do families will have to pay for university fees themselves.
According to President Ruto, students from the bottom of the pyramid will enjoy equal opportunity in accessing university and TVET education, as their households will not have to make any contribution towards their education.
However, education experts have argued that the new model lacks practicability and may not succeed.
“The government has committed to fund 53% of university education, chances are it may end up funding 10% or 7% and this is what will cripple universities because government funding will not be forthcoming, he said.
Echesa argued that parents will be unable to meet the high cost of education, professors will not be paid, and university education is going to collapse.
He further claimed that the new model is highly discriminative and is prone to abuse by those responsible to implement it.
“Parents will be unable to meet the high cost of education, professors will not be paid and the university education is going to collapse.”
Cyprian Ombati, the National Vice Chairperson of the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU), also faulted the new model, saying that those who will benefit from it will not be students from humble backgrounds.
Ombati argued that a criterion that works for all students should be implemented. President Ruto, on the other hand, believes that the new model will motivate universities and TVET institutions to generate more funds and enhance the quality of education.
The funding model is set to begin in the next financial year and will see 173,127 students joining universities and 145,325 students joining TVET institutions benefit.
“In our present system and setup, this model is highly discriminative and is prone to abuse.“
However, education experts remain skeptical about its effectiveness. They argue that the government should instead focus on increasing funding for universities and other institutions of higher learning to ensure that all students, regardless of their socio-economic background, have access to quality education.
Funding Students in Private Universities
They further suggest that the government should explore alternative funding models, such as public-private partnerships, to provide sustainable funding for higher education.
The Kenyan government has already announced that it will no longer provide funding for students who qualify for university but choose to attend private universities.
The Education Cabinet Secretary, Ezekiel Machogu, made the announcement while appearing before the Public Investment Committee on Governance and Education.
The government is shifting its policy to ensure that all students are placed in public universities, and Machogu assured the committee that the new policy would require students or parents to make the choice and cater for it.
The government has been spending Ksh.20 billion to cater for students who should be in public universities but are studying in private universities.
In the last financial year, Ksh.13.7 billion was used as capitations, and Ksh.6.7 billion was used as grants. An audit of public facilities revealed that they can accommodate all students who meet the university pass mark.
While students already in private universities will be allowed to complete their studies, the government has committed to placing all students in public universities.
The Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) will give priority to public universities in the placement of those who have qualified for university education.
Biased Policy
The new policy is based on a funding criteria that considers performance and choice of program, household income bands, affirmative action, and government priority areas. However, a section of MPs raised concerns over the policy, warning that it risks disenfranchising needy cases.
Public universities in Kenya are facing a backlog of over Ksh.60 billion in pending bills, and there are numerous stalled projects. Despite this, Machogu is confident that public universities have the capacity to accommodate all qualified students.
The decision to shift funding from private to public universities is a significant policy change that has the potential to improve the quality of higher education in Kenya.
Public universities in the country have struggled with a lack of funding and resources, which has had a negative impact on the quality of education they provide. By prioritizing public universities, the government is signaling its commitment to improving the standard of higher education in the country.
However, there are concerns that the new policy may have unintended consequences. For example, it could lead to an increase in the number of students seeking admission to public universities, which may place a strain on already overburdened institutions.
The government will need to invest in public universities to ensure that they have the resources they need to accommodate an influx of new students.
Another concern is that the policy may disadvantage students who are unable to gain admission to public universities. Private universities may offer programs that are not available in public universities, and some students may prefer the teaching styles and facilities offered by private institutions.
The government will need to ensure that the policy does not restrict students’ choices or limit access to education.
Education Experts Fault Ruto’s University Funding Model for "Overtaxing Parents”
