Funding Crisis Looms Over University Education as 965,500 Sit KCSE Exams.
A significant challenge is emerging for government officials as 965,500 candidates begin their Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations today. This comes amid a severe funding crisis affecting public universities.
The 2024 cohort of candidates is the third group expected to intensify pressure on the government, as the controversial student-centered funding model, initiated in 2022, continues to face challenges.
The student-centered funding model was introduced as a potential solution to the dire financial situation of public universities, which face debts exceeding Sh70 billion.
However, legal hurdles have hindered the model’s implementation. Continuing students, who are not direct beneficiaries, have been vocal in opposing the initiative, prompting court battles that have stalled its rollout.
Changes in Grading and University Admission Pressure
Recent changes in the KCSE grading system by the Ministry of Education are expected to increase the number of students qualifying for university.
By removing the requirement for two science subjects and English as mandatory, the number of students meeting the minimum C+ grade for university entry is projected to rise beyond the 201,333 who qualified last year.
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Consequently, the increase in university entrants will further strain the funding model, creating a more significant financial burden.
The government faces mounting concerns about the sustainability of this funding model. Projections indicate that university qualifiers will continue to grow, with the figure expected to reach 290,950 by 2027.
Historically, about 90% of eligible KCSE candidates apply for degree courses annually, which means the demand for student financing will persist. This growing need places additional pressure on the Exchequer, already overburdened with fulfilling election promises.
Financial Implications for the Treasury
If the government’s commitment to financing needy and vulnerable students holds, the National Treasury may require nearly Sh200 billion annually by 2027.
The current legal suspension of the funding model could provide a chance to refine it. One option is for the government to make more accurate cost projections based on the revised grading standards.
This would involve calculating the proportion of students likely to join universities and mapping out financial requirements.
The government could consider reintroducing cut-off points to cap the number of university-sponsored students.
This approach, reminiscent of the 1990s and early 2000s, would restrict sponsorship to a manageable number of students, with those falling outside the cut-off needing to pursue private funding, such as Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) assistance, to join as self-sponsored learners.
Despite this, the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Agency (KUCCPS) will continue placing students regardless of their financial means, with the government subsequently deciding how many it can fund.
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Alternatively, a vetting process could be implemented to identify students who most need support, although this may lead to complications given the flaws of the current Means Testing Instrument. A merit-based selection could face scrutiny and raise numerous questions.
Ongoing Court Battles
With the funding model’s future uncertain, attention remains focused on the courts, where the government is engaged in a fierce struggle to preserve one of its key educational reforms.
Petitioners are aggressively pushing to have the model completely scrapped, making the outcome critical for the direction of higher education financing.
Funding Crisis Looms Over University Education as 965,500 Sit KCSE Exams.
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