In spite of New Funding Private Universities Still Face Closure and Job Cuts
In spite of New Funding Private Universities Still Face Closure and Job Cuts
In spite of New Funding Private Universities Still Face Closure and Job Cuts. Private universities have the potential to lose jobs. Some institutions may close as a result of the new funding structure.
This is the result of a new funding model that supports students with scholarships and financial aid that will be implemented in September.
However, the scholarship will only be available to students enrolled in public institutions, so students in private universities will not be eligible.
This means that the loan will only be given to students studying in private universities to pay tuition fees.
According to Kenya Association of Private Universities (KAPU) chairman Professor Stephen Mbuguana, the government’s decision to ban private universities from funding scholarships may force some private universities to close.
The Vice-Chancellor of the Catholic University of East Africa (CUEA), Professor Mbugua, said the current student population is very low, posing challenges to the sustainability and growth of the institution in the next five years.
He said how this situation limits the development potential of universities. The eighth Catholic Headmasters Association Conference was held in conjunction with his speech at the Catholic University of East Africa.
To stop the collapse of the private sector, Professor Mbugua called on the government to rethink the funding paradigm.
Professor Mbugua admitted that requests have been made to the government to address the problem.
He revealed that he has sent letters to the Cabinet Secretary, the Permanent Secretary for Higher Education and even the Chairman of the Education Committee in Parliament on behalf of private universities.
In spite of New Funding Private Universities Still Face Closure and Job Cuts
This appeal seeks to encourage decision makers to re-evaluate their choices.
Since 2016, more than 100,000 students have received government funding to study at private universities.
By 2021, 15% of all government-funded students will be enrolled in private universities, according to the Kenya Association of Private Universities 2021 document to the National Assembly’s education committee.
10,984 students were admitted in 2016, 17,363 in 2017, 12,656 in 2018, 17,511 in 2019 and 27,754 in 2020.
In 2021, 28,063 new students were admitted to universities.
This year, a total of 140,107 students have been admitted to public and private universities to pursue undergraduate degrees after the 2022 KCSE exam.
9,662 students enrolled in private institutions will only receive student loans, while 130,485 students enrolled in public universities will receive scholarships and loans.
Prof. Mbugua said that if the new paradigm continues as it is now, private universities will face financial difficulties.
He also stated that there is a campaign organized to encourage students to apply to state universities by promising scholarships.
This approach grew out of the expansion of private universities. According to Mbugua, most universities have less than ten students.
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He said this approach is contrary to the Kenyan Kwanza model of economic governance, which encourages job creation in the private and public sectors.
“We know that the government has promised to increase employment, but we are doing the opposite by attracting students from the private sector,” he said.
On the orders of President Uhuru Kenyatta, the Ministry of Education began allowing government-funded students to enroll in private universities in 2016.
In 2014, the document, which seeks to overhaul the financially troubled university sector, first proposed admitting government-funded students to private universities.
The expansion of government student sponsorship to private universities was identified as one of the most successful ways to address the challenges in Kenyan higher education in the 2012 Session 14.
Although President Uhuru Kenyatta authorized the placement of government-sponsored students in all universities, the program did not become a reality until 2016.
According to President Uhuru Kenyatta, investment in universities by government, commercial and religious institutions should be evaluated to determine the best way to use resources to train more Kenyans.
In spite of New Funding Private Universities Still Face Closure and Job Cuts
