Row brewing as Public Education stakeholders propose to defund Private Varsities

 

Student leaders protest against the proposed fee increment outside Meru University.

Education stakeholders and public universities vice chancellors propose to stop enrolment of government-sponsored students into private universities.


34 private universities will be on the verge of either close down or scale down their operations if the proposal sails through as a significant portion of their budgets are supported through the government-sponsored student's programme.


The education stakeholders proposed through the Education Committee of the National Assembly which appears to have attracted the support of MPs and ministry officials.


 Dr Eve Obara, the MP for Kabondo Kasipul and Dr Pamela Ochieng’, the woman rep, Migori County, supported the proposal.


“Why would we have students sent to private universities when public universities have adequate capacity?” asked Dr Obara.

However, Education Committee chairperson Florence Mutua (Busia woman rep) said the matter calls for broad consultation.

The Private Universities said the proposal undermines student choice.

Private Universities VCs Committee chairman Kisau Mumo said government-sponsored students willingly choose to join private universities and advised that the current freedom of choice should be encouraged.

“The vice-chancellors in public universities are not genuine when asking the government to stop the admission of students in private institutions,” said Prof Mumo, who is also the Scott Christian University vice-chancellor.


University of Eastern Africa, Baraton, VC Prof Philip Maiyo, who is also the vice-chairman of the Private Universities VCs Committee, said public and private universities are not competing.