Private Universities Enrollment Drastically Decline Following New Funding Model
The number of students enrolling in private universities has declined dramatically, a trend that now threatens their survival.
Mount Kenya University will enroll the most students among private institutions (2,322). KCA University comes in second with 1,252 points, followed by Zetech in third with 1,018.
Kabarak University will receive 910, while Daystar University, with 889, closes out the top five most popular private universities among students.
Alupe University will enroll 798 students, the Catholic University of Eastern Africa 797, Kenya Methodist University 503, the University of Eastern Africa Baraton 384, and Uzima University, a Catholic institution, 241 students.
International Leadership University, which admitted just three students, and Pan-African Christian University, which accepted seven, will have the lowest admissions rates.
This year, the East African University will receive 12, Marist University College will receive 12, Tangaza University College will receive 13, Scott Christian University will receive 13, and the Islamic University of Kenya will receive only 14.
Dr. Wahome explained that the price of university programs influences students’ decisions regarding where to pursue higher education.
She also indicated that the system was designed to inform students that if they chose private universities, they would only be eligible for loans, whereas if they applied to public universities, they would be eligible for both scholarships and loans.
“We wanted each student to make an educated decision at every stage,” Dr. Wahome explained.
She notes that, as a result, the number of students choosing to enroll in private universities decreased from 20,000 the year prior to less than 10,000 this year.
Wahome commented that there were specific courses within private universities that failed to attract any students.
She explained that when high-capacity programs are available at public universities and offer both scholarships and loans, along with a similar cost structure, students tend to opt for public universities.
The Kenya Association of Private Universities attributes the significant decline in private institution admissions to the implementation of a new university funding model.
The new model has taken the place of the previous one, in which the government provided grants to universities that accepted government-sponsored students.
In contrast, the government will subsidize students’ tuition fees through scholarships and student loans under the new model.
However, private universities are not eligible for the scholarships under the arrangement. This means that only students attending private universities will be eligible for financial aid.
Stephen Mbugua, the chairman of the Kenya Association of Private Universities, noted that the decision had a significant impact on the admissions rates of private universities, with some institutions receiving fewer than ten students.
Prof. Mbugua suggests that the decline in enrollment could force some private institutions to close their doors.
“The numbers are so low that they cannot sustain our universities over the next five years,” Mbugua says.
This year, slightly more university admissions were granted to male students, 76,971 (54.9 percent of the total).
Additionally, there were 66,136 female students.
At private universities, layoffs are imminent. As a result of the new funding formula, some institutions may cease, but it has emerged.
This comes as a result of the implementation of the new financing model, which supports students through scholarships and loans, in September of this year.
Under the terms of the agreement, however, private universities will not be eligible for the scholarships, as they will be reserved exclusively for students enrolling in their respective public institutions.
Private Universities Enrollment Drastically Decline Following New Funding Model