Universities Fund Underfunded To Effectively Discharge Its Functions
The Universities Fund is seeking Sh400 million in order to carry out its functions effectively.
According to the exchequer’s 2021-2026 strategic plan, which was made public yesterday, the funding agency is underfunded.
According to the strategic plan, they received a meager Sh46.22 million in the 2020/21 fiscal year, which the agency claims is insufficient to carry out their mandate.
According to the report, 52 percent of the budget they receive is spent on salaries and administrative costs, with only 13 percent going directly to the Fund’s core mandate.
Geoffrey Monari, the Fund’s Chief Executive Officer, stated that in the current fiscal year, which ends on June 30, they received a meager Sh66 million, which halted their operations.
“For the agency to function optimally, we need at least Sh400 million to cover operational costs, as well as improvements to its facilities and equipment,” he continued.
Monari stated that the fund requires data to make decisions on fund disbursements to universities, which they do not have, and that data on the number of government sponsored students in universities is critical in determining funding to individual universities, developing policy, and putting in place proper audit systems on the use of disbursed funds.
“Important capabilities are lacking in research, data management, monitoring and evaluation, resource mobilization, communication, partnerships and human resource management and training,” said Monari.
“A centralised data management system that is integrated with Held, the Commission for University Education (CUE), the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (Kuccps) and the individual universities database on students would enhance transparency and accountability,” he added.
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At the same time, the agency strategic fund reveals gaps in university education funding. In the 2020/21 fiscal year, 271,446 students were enrolled in public universities, and the approved budget was Sh41.907 billion, which was Sh27.359 billion less than the previous year.
During the same calendar year. Private universities admitted 61,541 students, and the approved budget was 2.73 billion, which was less than Sh9.375 billion.
Universities Fund Underfunded To Effectively Discharge Its Functions