NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 20 – The University Fund Board has backed the proposal to have university fees increased, saying this will ensure quality education in universities.
The proposal by the presidential working party on education reforms is to have university fees increased by threefold, from the current sh 16,000 to sh 52,000 per semester for government-sponsored students.
The Fund Board CEO Geoffrey Monari on Monday told Capital News that the current funding of education in the university falls below the institutions’ needs, also noting that it’s even lower than secondary school fees.
“University fees have not been increased since 1989 which is affecting the quality of education at universities. Consideration is important to ensure the quality of education in universities,” Monari stated.
Over the past few years public universities have been lamenting over financial constraints partly orchestrated by exponential growth in the number of students which has put a strain on facilities and human resources.
The financial situation has also been blamed on failure by the government to provide sufficient funds through capitation, forcing universities to secure and offer services on credit.
Public universities have argued that funding disbursed by the exchequer has not been commensurate with the number of students joining universities.
In November 2022, Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu came under sharp criticism after he implored on universities to adopt innovative ways to mobilize for resources so as to address the current funding crisis.
Recently, the University Academic Staff Union (UASU) flagged the financial situation in public universities had reached a crisis level and, “unless it is addressed immediately, there is a risk of imminent collapse of higher education.” stated UASU SG Constantine Wasonga.
As per University Fund records, public universities have debts accumulating to Sh56bn.
Public universities owe contractors Sh1.4bn, part-time lecturers Sh4.5bn, suppliers Sh4.8bn, and Saccos Sh4.1bn.
NSSF is owed Sh139m, NHIF Sh2 million, financial institutions Sh1.3bn for employees’ loan deductions, pension schemes Sh18bn and KRA Sh13bn for PAYE.
Other loans have accumulated to Sh10bn.
Part of the recommendations by the education taskforce presented to President William Ruto last week included easing the financial burden on universities by writing off debts owed by universities to statutory bodies.
