A proposal to increase university fees from Sh16,000 to Sh48,000 has hit the wall after MPs opposed the move.
The lawmakers instead, chose to give the State Department of Higher Education another alternative to cushion the funding crisis.
Department's chief finance officer Diana Mutisya said if the department is fully funded then there will be no need to increase the fees.
“Should we be given full capitation to universities, which is Sh77.9 billion, we will be able to finance university students at 80 per cent without increasing fees,” Mutisya said.
The department was under fire on Monday to explain the rationale of the proposal. The National Assembly Education Committee met the department over budget policy statement.
Committee vice chairman Malulu Injendi said with the tough economic times, increased school fees will be a burden to parents.
“Kenyans are suffering but one of your requests is to increase fees. Surely is that proposal in good faith?” Injendi posed.
Nyamira MP Jerusha Momanyi asked what it would take for the department to scrap the proposal. “Should we give you Sh42 billion will the proposal to increase fees still stand?” Momanyi asked.
Last week, the vice chancellors committee proposed a review of school fees from Sh16,000 to Sh48,000.
The committee led by Geoffrey Muluvi, urged the state to change financing models under the differentiated unit cost (DUC) from 48 per cent to 65 per cent.
Lugari MP Nabii Nabwera faulted some of the contradictions which he highlighted in the policy statement.“Why would you be very willing to establish an open university and increase fees at the same time?”
Homa Bay MP Christine Ombaka questioned if students loans would be increased with increased school fees.
“How practical is it to increase school fees, and will Helb increase now that they will be paying Sh48,000?” Ombaka asked.
Helb CEO Charles Ringera said the increase will reduce government funding by 20 per cent.
Ringera explained that household and loans contribution will be raised to 40 per cent and the government will cater for 60 per cent.
“If the fee is increased to Sh48,000 that is where the funding gap comes in. We will also move to Sh25 billion from Sh17 billion to cushion the number of students we are financing,” Ringera said.
Higher Education PS Beatrice Inyangala said the proposal was fronted by university bosses.
“We want to be guided by the committee but it’s not an issue that we have decided on. It was advised by vice chancellors,” Inyangala said.
The MPs also questioned the urgency in the establishment of an open university that would cost Sh1 billion.
PS Inyangala explained that the open university has been stalling for years.
“It’s not a new project. Since 2010, a blueprint was developed and money paid to CUE to accredit NOU,” she said.
She added that a charter had been developed and the task force has reviewed blueprint and eventually developed a proposal.
The university is set to offer six programmes at bachelors level and two at postgraduate level.