The Covid-19 pandemic has hurt the world economy and left many sectors ailing.
In Kenya, hospitality, transport, performing and creative arts and education are some of the sectors that have been worst hit.
In the education sector, the universities and other institutions of higher learning depending on the government for finance have been most affected.
Most of them have been left grappling with financial difficulties following the government’s move to slash funding.
Treasury cut funding to the universities by nine per cent in the financial year 2021-22 which is not commensurate with the number of students enrolled in the institutions.
Most universities are unable to meet their maturing financial obligations and are staring at a threat of litigation and seizure of property by auctioneers.
There is also the threat of near closure as many of them are wobbling towards insolvency.
The total resources allocated to the universities only covered 57 per cent as opposed to the requisite 80 per cent differentiated unit cost capitation.
In addition, following the closure of schools and colleges in the country as a result of the pandemic, there was a reported decline in appropriations in aid generated by the universities.
Furthermore, the pandemic led to a reduction in funding for research as a result of the health crisis.
The universities have come up with a raft of measures to counter the financial crisis.
In November last year, university vice-chancellors and chairmen went for the low lying fruit, asking Parliament to sanction a push to increase fees to ensure the institutions remain afloat.
One of the universities have taken the lead by implementing several measures which stakeholders say, will adversely affect access to higher education.
Although the measures adopted may be worthwhile for a short period, in the long run, this might be counterproductive.
Putting access to higher education beyond the reach of many deserving students and allowing access only to the few rich people, will not be sustainable in the long run.
It might lead to the eventual collapse of universities charging exorbitant fees, as many students will opt for the more affordable ones across the border, leading to brain drain.
Furthermore, universities with extra or idle resources can transfer them to other universities where they are urgently needed
Access to education is a universal right and is enshrined in our Constitution.
A tenth-fold increment in the cost of education is akin to denying access to education.
The universities need to adopt sustainable measures to enhance their economic prosperity and eventual sustainability.
The universities should adopt recommendations from some of the stakeholders in the education sector.
First, they need to cut down on wastage and invest in profitable projects.
In addition, the institutions should adopt low-cost projects and shun the expensive ones.
Universities with extra or idle resources can transfer them to other institutions where they are urgently needed.
Universities are innately research and consultancy centres. They can use this to their advantage.
For instance, coming up with new projects or research that can be sold to the public for extra income.
Projects like TV stations, production studios, talent incubation hubs can go a long way in supplementing their income.
The government can also help save the situation by increasing the amount of money allocated to the universities.
It should adopt recommendations by the stakeholders and consider funding students based on the demands of courses they are taking, as opposed to using an arbitrary figure.
Edited by Kiilu Damaris
