Western Scholars and Clergy Urge Government to Lower Cost of Education
A group of Western scholars, professors and clergy have asked the government to address the soaring cost of education.
Exorbitant fees, according to Prof Herman Manyora, Dr Festus Mukoya, and Dr Odongo Were of the University of Nairobi (UoN), have crushed the ambitions of children from poor homes.
The experts emphasized the devastating effect of high school fees on access to higher education during a thanksgiving event for Dr. Mukoya, who just completed a PhD in Peace and Conflict Management from Oslo University in America.
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According to Prof Manyora, education is critical to changing the lives of children from less privileged homes.
“We want a country where all children have an equal chance to succeed in life, and the government must ensure education is affordable to all Kenyans,” he said.
Dr. Mukoya questioned the Presidential Working Group on Education’s recommendations, particularly the suggestion to raise school and university fees.
The working committee proposed considerable reforms, including a dramatic hike in semester university fees from Sh16,000 to Sh52,000.
Dr. Mukoya expressed concern over the government’s decision to increase taxes, raise educational costs, and anticipate fair competition between the less privileged Kenyans and the wealthy. He characterized this situation as an indication that the country is moving in the wrong direction.
Dr. Odongo stated that the majority of Kenyans live in poverty, and that raising school fees will threaten access to education in the country.
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Dr. Mukoya emphasized the pressing need for the government to reassess the financial strain imposed on parents due to the high costs associated with the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC). According to him, the CBC implementation has proven to be financially burdensome for many Kenyan families, making it challenging for them to afford quality education for their children.
The academics also urged the government to provide appropriate funding to institutions for research and innovation, claiming that this is critical for economic development.
They requested the Ministry of Education to ensure effective sector management and funding.
Joseph Munialo, Presiding Bishop of the Free Pentecostal Fellowship Church of Kenya, expressed concern over Kenyans’ decreasing hope as a result of economic challenges.
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He urged President William Ruto to address voters’ concerns while avoiding divisive politics.
Western Scholars and Clergy Urge Government to Lower Cost of Education
