Introduction

On Wednesday, Onesmus Mutio, the Organising Secretary of the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU), sounded the alarm about the deteriorating conditions in universities. He attributed this to the new higher education funding model introduced last year. Mutio highlighted concerns about overworked lecturers and an increasing number of student dropouts.

image: Union representatives for Moi

University employees speaking after a meeting in Eldoret on March 17, 2023

New Funding Model and Its Implications

The new funding model requires universities to disclose the cost of programs on the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) platform. This transparency allows students to choose between private and public universities. Subsequently, KUCCPS places students based on the declared slots by institutions, which the Commission for University Education (CUE) approves.

Capacity vs. Resources

However, Mutio expressed concerns over CUE’s approval of Kisii University’s capacity to accommodate 16,464 students. The university has less than 400 lecturers. “Our worry is that the lecturers will be overworked because to teach such kind of students you need a good number of lecturers. We have been pushing the government to recruit more lecturers because they are overworked,” he stated. Moreover, he emphasized the need for the government to recruit 1,000 more lecturers to balance the student-lecturer ratio.

Student Dropouts and Course Mismatch

Mutio pointed out that the new model forces some students into courses they do not desire. This has led to high dropout rates. He revealed that students compelled to study unwanted courses often lose interest. Consequently, they are more likely to drop out. “If your passion was to study journalism and you end up studying accounts, there’s a possibility you might drop out midway,” he noted. This misalignment of courses and student interests threatens to create a crisis in the education system.

Impact on Student Morale

Furthermore, Mutio warned that the morale of students is significantly affected when they are enrolled in courses they are not passionate about. “This will bring a crisis where the morale of the students even in class, you may realize they may not have the passion to study,” he pointed out. The lack of interest and engagement can lead to poor academic performance and increased dropout rates.

Increased Preference for Private Universities

Interestingly, this year’s selection saw a significant shift in student preference towards private universities. Over 18,557 students chose private universities, compared to 9,622 last year. This trend indicates a growing dissatisfaction with public universities under the new funding model.

Universities with Highest Student Intake

Several universities received the highest number of student placements this year. Kenyatta University topped the list with 8,820 students. Additionally, Maseno University (7,848), Kisii University (7,772), University of Nairobi (7,731), and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (7,112) followed closely.

Looking Ahead

The concerns raised by UASU’s Organising Secretary highlight the urgent need for the government to address the challenges posed by the new funding model. The potential crisis of overworked lecturers and demotivated students could have long-term consequences on the quality of higher education in Kenya.

Call to Action

Therefore, Mutio urged the government to take immediate action to recruit more lecturers. Moreover, they should ensure that students are enrolled in courses aligned with their interests. The future of Kenya’s higher education system depends on addressing these critical issues.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the new higher education funding model has brought significant challenges to universities in Kenya. Overworked lecturers and demotivated students are just the tip of the iceberg. The government must take swift action to address these issues and ensure the sustainability of the higher education sector.

For more details on the university placement process, visit the KUCCPS official website.

For insights into the role of the Commission for University Education, check out their official page.