Education reforms unit calls for tripling of varsity fees
A threefold fee increase for government-sponsored students in public universities is in the offing if the Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms recommendation is allowed to go through as part of initiatives to raise funds for institutions of higher learning.
If the task force’s recommendations see the light of day, the affected group of learners will see fee rates more than triple to Kes52,000 per semester, up from the current Kes16,000.
The panel also proposed that the government write off Kes56.13 billion owed by public universities in unremitted Pay As You Earn (PAYE) pension, NHIF, and NSSF to help public universities recover from a Kes 164 billion deficit accrued since the 2018/2019 academic year.
The far-reaching fees increment and debt forgiveness recommendations make for the second installment of education reform proposals by the Presidential Working Party, following its submission that junior secondary be domiciled in primary schools in early December.
President Ruto appointed the task force working on education reform in September 2022 to investigate diverse issues affecting basic and tertiary education in the country and suggest amelioration measures.
