Private Universities to Miss Funding from the Government
Private Universities to Miss Funding from the Government. Students who enroll in private universities for higher education must now pay their own tuition fees, according to policy.State-sponsored students are included in this.
This program is being used by the government as a way to address the public university financial crisis.
This morning before the parliamentary education committee, CS Machogu claims that such reforms in the higher education sector will make the universities financially sustainable.
This comes after public colleges have been having trouble paying their debts, which total up to Sh62 billion in pending payments for things like payroll taxes, retirement benefits, and employee insurance premiums.
“Going forward, no government money would be flowing to a private university, and parents who wish to enrol their children in private institutions shall have to cover the expense,” he says the Public Investments Committee on Education and Governance (PICEG) of the National Assembly.
A new student-centered funding model for universities and technical and vocational education and training (Tvet) institutions, where money would be provided to people depending on their level of need, was announced by President Ruto before the CS Machogu decree.
The government stipulates that student finance must take three different forms: scholarships, loans, and household contributions on a graded basis.
The aforementioned criteria will scientifically group students into the following need categories:
1)Vulnerable
2) Extremely Needy
3) Needy
4) Less Needy
Allocations to Universities and Colleges Have Increased
The new model eliminates block funding for universities and TVETS in the form of grants with differential unit costs (DUC).
To help with the implementation of the new framework, the State increased funding for higher education to Sh84.6 billion from the Sh54 billion earmarked in the current financial year as loans and grants.
Accordingly, funding per student has increased from Sh152,000 to Sh208,000.
The funding allocation for Tvets would increase from Sh5.2 billion to Sh10 billion, or Sh67,000 per trainee year, beginning in July.
According to Mr. Machogu, an adjustment has already been sought in writing to the Attorney General in order to address the issue of student placement and ensure that it complies with the law.
In 2016, the state started permitting government-sponsored students (GSS) to enroll in private universities, in an effort to reduce the overcrowding in public institutions.