There has been a lot of stink over the introduction of graduated fees for public universities.
This is the right proposal in principle but government may need to look at the amounts again.
It is the right proposal because parents are willing to pay substantial fees for secondary school so why should university be free? Kenya's population is predicted to hit 80 million by 2050 so many more young people will want to go to university. Government will not be able to afford free tuition for all of them.
Moreover, it is socially desirable that richer people should contribute more to society than poor people. Therefore, it is proper that university fees should be scaled according to the wealth of the parents and their ability to pay.
Amalgamating CDF and county bursaries won't solve the problem because central government constitutionally cannot claw back devolved funds.
Where there perhaps should be more consideration is the amounts that parents are asked to pay.
At the top end richer families with earnings above Sh120,000 get 30 per cent in scholarships, a further 30 per cent loan and only have to pay 40 percent themselves. Perhaps that threshold could be set a bit higher.
Quote of the day: “The worker must work for the glory of his handiwork, not simply for pay; the thinker must think for truth, not for fame.”
W.E.B. Du Bois
The American sociologist, historian and Pan-Africanist civil rights activist died on August 27, 1963
