Financing higher education in Kenya

Abstract

The Kenyan government has made tremendous strides in the provision of education at all levels. The importance of universities providing the technical, managerial and professional skills needed for sustained development is reflected in the special status accorded to them and the large public budgets they receive in most countries. This study deals with the major dilemma facing almost all governments in both developed and developing world with specific reference to Kenya: how to continue to expand university education to meet the ever growing demand for higher education, in the absence of sufficient additional public funding to sustain the growth. This study focused on the provision of equitable opportunity to all citizens to pursue higher education irrespective of their gender, race, religion or socio-economic status, however as research findings revealed the caveat to this treasured principle is the inadequacy of finance. It is imperative therefore that resources in higher education are efficiently and effectively utilized considering that public finances are limited and government spending priorities have changed towards the lower levels. This study examines the student loans scheme in Kenya, and from the findings from the study it is argued that there is need for the student loans scheme to target its support to the needy and poor if the government has to continue to subsidize the program. These reforms will assist the government achieve the desired effects of equity, efficiency and equality of opporturuty. In conclusion the study was undertaken to address the problems of financing higher education in Kenya in this era of constrained public resources and rising social demand for education. The problems of financing higher education sub-sector are to - maintain equity, efficiency and equality of opportunity. The study has attempted to suggest ways to come to grips with these problems. It is by no means conclusive and I recommend further research in the area of financing higher education in developing countries.