Matiang’i rules out varsity fee rise in course-based funding

The Ministry of Education has ruled out increasing university tuition fee under a new funding formula that will make science-based subjects costlier than liberal arts subjects.

The new formula will see universities receive State funding in proportion to the cost of courses being offered, Education Cabinet secretary Fred Matiang’i said Monday, adding that the review will not lead to higher fees.

There has been talk of bringing to an end the low tuition charges that government-sponsored students have been paying since the mid-90s. The increase in fees, which drew protests from the students, would include setting of maximum charges for each course and make science subjects more expensive.

On Monday, Dr Matiang’i said university fees will remain unchanged, adding that it would be prudent to sacrifice art-based courses without giving details whether the allocation for liberal art courses will be cut.

“There is absolutely no reason why a university should offer more specialisation in art-based courses when all we need are technical subjects,” Dr Matiang’i said, adding that the ministry would also focus on mid-level technical skills.

“We are discussing how the funds allocated for higher education will henceforth be distributed equitably to universities based on a proven formula as opposed to current practice that allocates a flat rate per head,” he added.

At the moment, universities rely on calculations done in 1995 which set the cost of keeping a student in public university at a flat rate of Sh120,000 per year regardless of the course taken.

Based on the rate, each public university gets State funding of Sh70,000 per student with the balance being met by the Higher Education Loans Board (Helb) or fees paid directly by parents.

Helb gives students between Sh35,000 and Sh60,000 for fees and accommodation annually.

READ: University tuition fees set for first review since 1995

Mr Matiang’i said the flat rate favours art-based universities at the expense of training in technical subjects.

“We have done our research and determined that dental surgery is the most expensive course being offered by local universities,” he said.

University of Nairobi charges government-sponsored dental surgery students Sh62,500 per year while the self-sponsored pay Sh474,000 per year.

Public universities have seen a sharp rise in enrolment of students with a two-fold growth from 196,737 learners in 2013 to 427,034 last year.

This has put a strain on the teaching facilities despite the opening of new varsities over the period due to cash crunch.

In 2010, a study backed by the World Bank and the government recommended a new financing model for the universities that would have doubled fees and increased interest paid on Helb loans.

University education in Kenya was free and the full cost was borne by the government until the introduction of cost sharing in public varsities in 1991 in the World Bank-backed plan.

It resulted in regular students paying tuition fees, accommodation, meals and personal upkeep after government withdrew universal financial support to the universities. But the government offers grant of Sh86,000 per head.