Universities Reject Ruto Funding Model, Issue Demands
On Friday, May 12, stakeholders in private universities rejected a funding model for tertiary institutions proposed by President William Ruto and Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu.
The plan to only support public institutions, in the opinion of the stakeholders, disadvantages and discriminates against them as taxpayers.
“We have a right to take pleasure in our taxes. No matter if they attend public or private institutions, these levies should benefit all students, according to Machakos University’s Judy Chania.
All of our efforts to encourage the government to subsidize students attending private universities have fallen on deaf ears, she continued.
They recommended that the government adopt the policies of former CS for Education Fred Matiang’i. The government looked into methods private universities could accept State-funded students during Matiangi’s rule.
“The pupils will be tempted by this. Their first choice might not be to pay fees if they receive the money in their accounts, she said.
In order to guarantee that only public universities receive government financing, Ruto introduced a new funding model on May 3.
The Head of State promised parents that they would completely support their children in public colleges and that the percentage of needy students who receive government scholarships will rise from 38% to 55%.
The National Assembly Education Committee questioned why the government sent students it financed to private universities in March 2023.
The committee’s chair, Julius Melly, proposed that future interactions between private universities and the government would only be based on policy and that no government-sponsored students would be admitted.
The committee argued that despite the high admittance rate, public institutions were left with few resources since private universities were funded.
On the other hand, Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) made it clear on Friday, May 12, that the new posting model will not be impacted by the proposed university finance model.
Private university students will continue to receive government financing, according to KUCCPS.
Universities Reject Ruto Funding Model, Issue Demands
