The government will from next month roll out the Differentiated Unit Cost Funding model in all universities in the country as part of ongoing reforms in higher education.
Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i says the model will ensure that universities receive government funding based on their academic programs and student enrollment.
The move is expected to reduce the number of self-sponsored students in public universities and raise government capitation in these institution which has previously been inadequate.
The announcement was made in a speech delivered during the during Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology’s 29th graduation ceremony today at the Juja main campus by assistant director of education Archer Arina Omollo.
“The government is keen inn ensuring that normal university operations are not affected by the ongoing education sector reforms through implementation of the Differentiated Unit Cost Funding to all the universities starting this July,” the CS said.
He added; “The Ministry is committed to improving education at all levels of learning, major reforms taking place in education are aimed at ensuring relevance, quality and increasing excellence and one of the pivotal challenges in tertiary institutions is equitable funding.”
In the new development, the government will be sponsoring all the KCSE candidates who score a mean grade of C+ and above and the universities management which have been relying heavily on self-sponsored students are expected to face a financial crunch.
Meanwhile Tech-savvy university students have been cautioned against using social media to fan ethnic divisions in the country ahead of the August 8 polls.
Instead, they have been advised to use the powerful platform to promote cohesion in the country amid a hotly contested election.
Speaking during the 29th graduation of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (Jkuat), Chancellor Prof Geoffrey ole Maloiy told the youth to foster peace and unity.
“We understand social media use has grown in the country. It has the positives and the negatives and we urge graduates and the youth not to it to cause disharmony,” he said.
