University regulator slams growing inequality

Kenya’s higher education regulator has raised a red flag over growing inequality in the sector that it worries could reach crisis levels in the next four years, locking out thousands of women and vulnerable groups.

In its strategic plan for 2014-18 the Commission for University Education, or CUE, identified equity as the biggest challenge that will haunt higher learning as student admissions surge.

Data in the plan shows that women currently account for only 39% of total university enrolment in Kenya, with the gap expected to widen by at least three percentage points by 2018. Also, CUE said, most women university students pursue arts-based courses, locking them out of higher profile technical and science-related jobs.

“Special needs students and those from marginalised areas continue to be seriously underrepresented,” said CUE Secretary Professor David Some at the strategic plan launch last month. While enrolment in public universities has increased over time, the high cost of learning continues to limit access for a large number of qualified students.

Financial constraints have also led to under-investment in infrastructure and capacity building as government funding has not been pegged to actual unit costs. This should change next year under a proposed policy that would base funding on unit costs per university course.

“This measure, although likely to enhance funding for university education, might increase disparities for women and vulnerable groups,” said CUE in the strategic plan.

Enrolments skewed, quality under pressure

Data from the government shows that enrolments in state universities have risen by 41% in two years – from 195,428 in 2012 to 276,349 by the end of last year. Male enrolment surged by 42% to 193,185 in 2013 while that of female students increased by 25% to 131,375.

“CUE will liaise with the government and other stakeholders to formulate policies that place emphasis on increasing women's access to science and technology-oriented courses besides enhancing action for all vulnerable groups to increase their representation in higher education,” said Some.

Enrolments are expected to hit new highs this year as the government starts admitting state-funded students to private universities – currently, state-funded students can only join public universities.

“The growing demand for university education has triggered the establishment of many institutions and alternative modes of delivery, some of them with questionable quality,” said the new strategy.

“There have been growing perceptions by the public that the development of university education institutions has been carried out in a haphazard manner thus leading to questionable quality, relevance and regional equity.”

In spite of the rapid increase in enrolments, access to university education has remained a challenge, as 70% of the students who qualify to join universities do not get admitted.

“Kenya’s education sector will require substantial investments to produce the required human resources for the priority growth sectors. Although enrolment in public universities has increased over time, the high cost continues to limit access for a large number of qualified students,” said the commission.

Challenges

The development and review of programmes at universities have not kept pace with emerging social and economic challenges, educationists have said.

“We still have quite a number of students who can’t fit within the job market. Employers are spending a fortune retraining new recruits,” said Charles Njuguna, a lecturer in Nairobi. “While the blame is on us as lecturers, we are working under lots of pressure especially in having to deal with overflowing classes.”

Fast expanding university enrolment without commensurate increases in infrastructure and staff has led to over-stretched facilities and high student-staff ratios, which are now posing a serious threat to quality.

“CUE will continue, in liaison with the government, to explore other modalities for financing higher education,” said Some.