The policy on Universal Access to Basic Education, which Kenya adopted in 2018, ensures that all children enrolled in primary school complete their secondary education with a 100 per cent transition rate.
Government officers have been seen moving from door to door in efforts to reach out to absconding learners and bring them back to school. The search increased after it was reported that a high number of learners had not reported back to school last year after the Covid-19 pandemic led to long school closure.
Even after the government's efforts to ensure learners remain in school, the University of Nairobi's recent fee increment seeks to water down this good initiative if what is reported in the local dailies is anything to go by.
It has been reported that about 1,971 students freshers have not reported for admission, four weeks since first years started reporting. Fee challenges have been cited, with many of those who have reported saying they had to organise fundraising.
This must not only worry the university but also political leaders and policymakers.
If there was a time that legislators would intervene in the education system and save learners, especially those from poor backgrounds, it is now.
The best appreciation the MPs can give to voters is to stand with them in moments like this. They should unite to pass The Universities (Amendment) Bill, which gives the Education CS powers to not only control university councils and boards, but also to deal with rogue ones and veto their unnecessary decisions for the public interest.
The Bill also gives the CS power to hire and fire council members.
Maybe the Bill will help bring sanity in universities where reports of financial embezzlement, salary delays, non-remittance of statutory deductions and irregular and biased recruitment have been reported.
The Bill will enable the minister to issue fee structure for universities as it is in secondary schools.
Those justifying fee increment on grounds that universities are facing financial crises should remember to inquire the circumstances under which they arrived at the crises.
Are there audit reports? What recommendations do they give? Have those implicated in misappropriation of funds been prosecuted and convicted?
Suppose the financial crises arose without misappropriation, have universities considered other money-making ideas other than fee increment?
For long universities have been centres of innovation. What happened to innovation even when there's an increased number of scholars with PhDs? Do we rely on theory at the expense of real-life skills?
Universities have also been leading research institutions. Through research, universities have thrived financially from donor grants and research proceeds.
Young and versatile learners with dedicated and leading scholars in technological, industrial and commercial faculties, if well utilised, can be a great source of income for universities.
This is why we could be making grave mistakes should we remain silent as those deserving students fail to report for admission and subsequent studies and yet they may be the geniuses who may unlock potential for our prosperity. Efforts must be made to trace the students and ensure they do not miss studies.
Although the universities are autonomous in their administration, and while MPs are debating the Bill, the President may intervene and help the students get admission.
