MOMBASA, Kenya, Feb 23 – Financial woes facing public universities are set to deepen with the Ministry of Education projecting a deficit of sh 49 billion funding for the financial year 2023/2024.
Speaking when he officially opened the First Biennial Kenya Universities Funding Conference 2023 in Mombasa on Thursday, Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu acknowledged that there has been challenges in the provision of capitation for students, as the increasing number of students joining universities hasn’t been commensurate with the allocated funds.
CS Machogu reported that in this finacial year the funding requirement for public universities is Kshs. 71,945,049,600 against an approved allocation of Kshs. 44,023,955,000, leaving a deficit of Kshs. 27,921,094,600.
For private universities, the funding requirement is at Kshs.18,448,041,600 against an approved allocation of Kshs.3,174,791,604. This leaves a deficit of Kshs.15,273,249,996.
“The projected deficit for the next financial year for public universities funding is Kshs.29,361,485,310, while private universities will have a funding deficit of Kshs. 20,305,673,883,” stated CS Machogu.
The two day Biennial conference convened by the University Fund brings together University Vice Chancellors, Principals of Universities and Constituent colleges and is aimed at deliberating various challenges facing univeristy education, top on the agenda being funding.
The conference comes even as the Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms has proposed a threefold increase of university fees for government sponsored students from the current sh 16,000 to sh 52,000.
The proposal received the backing of University Fund CEO Geoffrey Monari, saying this will improve the quality of university education.
Public Universities are at the verge of collapse after it emerged that they have pending bills amounting to sh 56 billion accumulating from non-remittance of statutory deductions deffered salaries, unpaid suppliers among others.
CS Machogu however expressed government’s commitment in rescuing public universities out of the financial hole and ensure its continuity.
He said the outcome of the Biennial conference and the proposals alongside those by the education reforms taskforce will guide government’s interventions in the sub-sector.
“I wish to assure you that the Government will do everything possible in terms of legislative, policy and budgetary interventions to implement measures that will help ensure the sustainability of our universities and improve access to university education,” he stated.
The CS further announced that plans are underway to establish the National Open University of Kenya, in an effort to make university education more affordable, accessible and attainable to all students regardless of their location or income level.
