The National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) has weighed in on the new Higher Education Funding model.
In a communiqué issued during the council’s 65th General Assembly on August 23, church leaders voiced their disappointment with what they described as inequality and injustices within the education system.
“This General Assembly has reviewed the state of education in Kenya. It is unfortunate that the education system is marked by confusion, inequality and injustices,” the statement read.
“This General Assembly is appalled at the wastage of public funds being witnessed through multiple scholarship programmes,” NCCK added.
Similarly, the leaders condemned the wastage of public funds while pointing accusing fingers at the officials involved in managing the funds. According to the NCCK, the current system and management of education funds gives room to chances of embezzlement.
“Further, this General Assembly is appalled at the wastage of public funds being witnessed through multiple scholarship programmes,” read the statement in part.
“We are convinced that the only reason these scholarships have been set up is to enable the officials to steal the money.”
Also Read: Wetangula Starts Process of Merging All Bursaries & Scholarships Including CDF to One Fund
Church Leaders Suggestions
NCCK also called on the government to urgently review the proposed University Education funding model and suggested it be converted to a tuition fund that will enable free education.
“We strongly recommend that all the bursaries and scholarships, which total close to Ksh 100 billion, be collapsed into a tuition fund that will provide capitation so that we can have truly free education for all.”
“Further, there is need to urgently review the proposed University Education funding model. It is grossly unjust to have a model that makes education a preserve of the rich,” the statement read.
Furthermore, the leaders called on the government to increase public engagement on the issue and establish clear structures to ensure that all qualified candidates benefit.
“The government should engage in comprehensive public participation so as to have a structure that benefits all qualified Kenyans,” NCCK said.
NCCK on CBC
In addition, NCCK urged the Ministry of Education to speedily address the concerns that have been raised regarding the Competence Based Curriculum (CBC).
“The transition to Grade 9 next year is still unclear as regards the availability of facilities and teachers in public primary schools.”
“How many classrooms have been constructed to accommodate the learners? How many teachers have been employed to ensure all learners are within the standard teacher-pupil ratio?” the statement read.
Also Read: HEF: Role Chiefs Will Play in Process of Recategorization of University Students
Wetangula Statement
The statement by NCCK comes after the speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetangula initiated the process of consolidating all bursaries and scholarships from public funds by the Ministry of Education.
According to a letter shared on August 23, Wetangula highlighted drawbacks of current system, which he notes has led to duplicate awards due to an uncoordinated approach involving the Ministry of Education, the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NGCDF), and County governments.
At the same time, Chief Justice (CJ) Martha Koome called for changes to the new university education funding model, terming it discriminatory.
Koome warned that if the current model is implemented as it is, there will be a serious inequality gap in the universities and therefore called for a review of the whole structure.
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