MPs Wants Private Universities Excluded From the KUCCPS Board.
Bumula MP Jack Wamboka has sponsored the Universities (Amendment) Bill (No. 38) of 2023, which seeks to eliminate private universities’ representation on the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) board.
Currently, two vice-chancellors from private universities sit on the board.
However, the committee opposed this proposal, arguing that KUCCPS serves as a central database for advising the government on university placements, necessitating input from both public and private institutions.
The Bill also recommends restricting government-sponsored student placements exclusively to public universities.
The Bill was motivated by growing concerns over the allocation of public funds to private universities, which operate under less stringent regulatory frameworks compared to public institutions.
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Although private universities contribute to meeting the rising demand for higher education, critics contend that government financial support to these institutions has not been utilized efficiently.
Concerns emerged that taxpayer money was being misdirected to profit-driven private universities, prompting calls for more transparent and accountable public resource management.
Furthermore, the Bill aims to address deficiencies in the financial oversight of private universities. Its provisions are designed to protect public funds by limiting Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) placements exclusively to public universities.
It also proposes removing private university representation on the KUCCPS board. These measures are intended to ensure that public resources are dedicated solely to public institutions, aligning with national priorities and bolstering accountability in the higher education sector.
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Maragua MP Mary Wamaua’s Basic Education (Amendment) Bill (No. 59) of 2023 aims to decentralize education oversight by establishing sub-county education boards. These boards would enhance localized management and decision-making in the education sector.
Cutting Public Funding to Private Universities
Khwisero MP Christopher Wangaya has sponsored the Universities (Amendment) Bill (No. 64) of 2023, which seeks to prohibit using public funds for private universities. The Bill also proposes barring KUCCPS from placing government-sponsored students in private institutions.
The committee noted that KUCCPS has not placed government-sponsored students in private universities during the last two cycles, underscoring the diminishing role of such placements.
MPs Wants Private Universities Excluded From the KUCCPS Board.
