Ruto Explains Why He’s Merging HELB With KUCCPS
President William Ruto has indicated that his administration will eliminate the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) and devise a new formula for financing institutions.
President Ruto stated during a joint discussion with the media at State House Nairobi on Wednesday evening that many universities in the country are having financial difficulties due to inadequate funding, despite the fact that students continue to swarm higher education institutions.
The Head of State reveals that HELB, the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS), and the University Funding Board (UFB) will be amalgamated to achieve efficacy and efficiency as part of the new formula to rescue the institutions from their current financial crisis.
The problem with higher education is enormous. “Auditor General already has said almost all universities are bankrupt because they have many problems,” President Ruto said.
The problem with higher education is enormous.
The Auditor General has already stated that almost all universities are bankrupt due to numerous problems.
“Recently, some university managements were taken to court because they have not paid salaries for lecturers and other staff. The case is just chaotic because the government capitation is just only 52 percent of the funds they need.”
He continued, “As a government, even if we look at Kenya Kwanza manifesto, we will put together HELB, KUCCPS and University Funding Board so that we will not have one institution doing funding, another places students in universities and colleges and they do not share notes. This is what leads to confusion because students continue to join universities with no enough funding and [we] find ourselves here.”
He continued, “As a government, even if we look at Kenya Kwanza manifesto, we will put together HELB, KUCCPS and University Funding Board so that we will not have one institution doing funding, another places students in universities and colleges and they do not share notes.
“This is what leads to confusion because students continue to join universities with no enough funding and [we] find ourselves here.” “We will ensure that there is harmony and we will harmonise all these institutions so that when a student joins a particular university or college, the government knows what amount the institution should be given.”
He promised to enssure that there is harmony in all of these institutions, so that when a student enrolls at a specific university or college, the government will know how much to give that institution.
Unless the current crisis in the institutions is resolved, the President asserts that the quality of education at universities and colleges is certain to decline.
According to him, this is the only way to bring order to universities and solve probles of cash-strapped institutions.
If not address immediately, he says the quality of education in our universities will be compromised.
The Kenya Kwanza administration will establish a national skills and funding council to connect the two levels in order to provide a framework for credit transfer and to promote academic progression.
The National Education Fund will mobilize private and governmental grants, bursaries, and scholarships to pay non-tuition expenses.
Additionally, President Ruto emphasized that his administration will prioritize Technical Training and Vocational Educational Training Institution (TVET).
He says the issue of TVET was halted some time ago because there were individuals who did not comprehend this sector.
“We are employing around 2,000 TVET tutors. We have 50 TVETs which are not equipped and we’re in talks with China and Germany to equip these institutions so that our youth will acquire skills and competence in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (stem),” said Dr Ruto.
The issue of the elimination of HELB has drawn heavy condemnation from leaders, who have requested that President Ruto reconsider the decision.
