Private Universities Reject Ruto’s Funding Model, Present Demands
On Friday, May 12, stakeholders in private universities rejected a proposal by President William Ruto and Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu regarding a funding model for tertiary institutions.
According to the stakeholders, the proposal to fund only public institutions discriminated against and disadvantaged them as taxpayers.
“We have the right to appreciate our taxes. Judy Chania from Machakos University argued that all students, regardless of whether they attend public or private universities, should receive these taxes.
“All of our efforts to secure government sponsorship for students attending private universities have been in vain,” she continued.
They suggested that the government adopt the strategies of former Education Secretary Fred Matiang’i.
During Matiangi’s reign, the government investigated the possibility of private universities enrolling State-funded students.
This will be an enticement for the students. If they receive the funds in their accounts, paying fees may not be their first option,” she explained.
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Ruto launched a new funding model on May 3 to guarantee that only public universities receive government funding.
The Head of State assured parents that their children would receive full funding at public universities and that the number of needy students receiving government scholarships would increase from 38% to 55%.
The National Assembly Education Committee questioned the placement of government-sponsored students at private universities in March 2023.
“In the future, any engagement between private universities and the government will be based solely on policy, and there will be no admission of government-sponsored students to private universities,” proposed committee chairman Julius Melly.
The committee argued that by funding private universities, public universities were left with inadequate resources despite their high admission rate.
On Friday, May 12, Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) clarified that the proposed university funding model will not affect the new posting model.
Private universities will continue to receive government funding, according to KUCCPS.
Private Universities Reject Ruto’s Funding Model, Present Demands
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