The Ministry of Education is working with the Ministry of Finance and other stakeholders to address the substantial pending bills affecting public universities, which currently exceed Sh75 billion, according to Beatrice Muganda Inyangala, Principal Secretary of the State Department for Higher Education and Research.
Dr. Inyangala revealed that discussions are underway with the Pending Bills Committee and other relevant entities to explore avenues for alleviating the financial burden faced by universities.
This includes deliberations with the Treasury and other stakeholders to potentially waive statutory deductions such as Pay As You Earn (PAYE) and National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) dues owed by universities due to financial constraints, allowing them to prioritize payments to suppliers and other creditors.
“We are also looking at escalating the issue of these pending bills to the Cabinet,” Dr. Inyangala emphasized.
Speaking during a meeting with Vice-chancellors and Deputy Vice-Chancellors (Academics) from local universities in Naivasha, Dr. Inyangala addressed preparations for the implementation of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), scheduled to commence with the first cohort in 2029.
The meeting, facilitated by the Commission for University Education (CUE), aimed to strategize on aligning university programs with the new curriculum.
Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu previously highlighted that inadequate government funding over the past five to six years has led to the accumulation of pending bills totaling Sh82 billion across 32 public universities.
This situation arose during the utilization of the Differentiated Unit Cost (DUC) system, wherein only 68% of the required funding was disbursed, resulting in mounting debts.
However, Dr. Inyangala noted that recent adjustments in the funding model have seen universities receive an additional Sh38 billion in their budgets.
This increased allocation aims to cater to rising student enrollment and the development of programs aligned with market demands.
With approximately 563,000 students enrolled in Kenyan universities during the 2022/23 academic year, public universities heavily depend on government subsidies for their operations.
Despite an allocation of Sh44,023,955,000 in the 2023/24 financial year, universities faced a significant deficit of Sh27,921,094,600, exacerbating the financial strain.
President Ruto pledged to increase the budgetary allocation to universities to Sh84 billion for the 2023/24 fiscal year, representing a 56% increase.
However, challenges such as funding shortages at the Treasury have hindered the fulfillment of this commitment.
Dr. Inyangala emphasized the importance of aligning university curricula with the CBC system, with a focus on fields such as sports science, creative arts, and STEM subjects to nurture young talents.
The Commission for University Education (CUE) has drafted guidelines to aid universities in achieving milestones in preparation for the new curriculum.
Despite resource challenges, universities are actively pursuing avenues for funding, including research proposals and grants.
However, there remains a shortage of professors and teaching staff with PhD qualifications.
Efforts are underway to address this gap, including sponsoring staff for doctoral studies abroad to enhance the quality of education.
Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) reiterated its commitment to preparing for the CBC system and enhancing collaboration with local and international institutions to bolster resources for research and program development.
