State set to reduce varsity subsidies in new fees structure

Engineering and medical students in public universities will start paying higher charges than those studying arts from October under a government plan meant to reduce subsidies.

Education Cabinet secretary Jacob Kaimenyi said on Tuesday lecturers would also be paid according to the subjects they taught.

“Recruitment of the members of the board that shall set the particular amounts for unit-costing is under way. We expect that the board shall be functional in three months,” Prof Kaimenyi said during a meeting with vice chancellors of local private universities.

The fee-setting model, commonly referred to as ‘differentiated unit costing’, uses a standard formula to determine the cost of teaching each degree course to graduation.

The change is in line with the recently-enacted Universities Act that will see the establishment of a Universities Fund to determine the amounts to be paid in each degree programme.

“Trustees of the fund shall establish the minimum discipline differentiated remuneration for academic staff of universities, which shall be fair and globally competitive, and advise the government accordingly,” article 54 of the Act states.

The Kenya Association of Private Universities (Kapu), however, said the unit costing could distort enrolment in both private and public universities as students opt for cheaper courses.

“The differentiated unit cost should reflect actual average costs of degree programmes and not just what is in the public sector since they are subsidised,” said Kapu chairperson Freida Brown, the vice chancellor of the United States International University.

Outgoing Higher Education PS Crispus Kiamba said the Universities Fund would also determine the voucher system that would give students a wider choice of degree programmes.

The system would also allow students choose where to pursue a course unlike the case now where the Joint Admissions Board (JAB) makes the choices for students based on performance rather than preference.

Already, the agency to replace JAB — Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service — is being set up to co-ordinate admissions in public and private universities as well as in mid-level colleges.

Prof Kiamba revealed that a team of higher education officials have travelled to Britain to learn their admission process that would help in setting up the new unit.

The VCs made a pitch for an end to preferential treatment of public universities in funding and grants.

“Although the Universities Act has assured all universities will have similar rights and privileges, the two tier system appears to continue,” said Prof Brown, citing cases where their charters are significantly delayed.

“The overall concern is that there is little political will to support the private sector.”