UNIVERSITY VICE-CHANCELLORS PRAISE NEW FUNDING MODEL AS FINANCIAL LIFELINE
VCs from all universities countrywide welcomed the new funding model in university education, terming the move as very timely.
The proposals were defended by Prof. Daniel Mugendi, the Vice-Chancellor at the University of Embu and Chairman, Vice-Chancellors’ Committee of Public Universities in Kenya.
“The new model has saved our institutions from the brink of collapse,” said Mugendi. He spoke after President William Ruto had been challenged on the model’s viability and sustainability.
Mugendi urged the precarious position faced under the earlier funding model. “The old model was killing our universities. I stand here on behalf of all the universities because I am the chairperson of all vice-chancellors,” he said.
He added that the new model’s first round run last year had put most institutions on a better financial footing. “Many universities would have been insolvent if the new model were not in place,” Mugendi said.
He highlighted the milestones achieved under the new model. “As it is, we are in the positive after just one round,” he said.
Mugendi detailed the challenges experienced under the old model. “We could not even pay salaries and owed lecturers and staff two-year arrears.” However, with the new model, he said universities had managed to clear these arrears.
“In May and June of this year, we managed to pay all arrears owed to lecturers and non-teaching staff,” added Mugendi.
He expressed confidence in the new model’s future. “It’s a model we can support because it allows us to predict when universities would face insolvency,” he explained.
“Now, there is a turn-around, and we will recover from the financial strain.” He supported President Ruto’s explanation that indeed the old model was flawed; it operated based on the assumption that the government could cover 80 percent of the cost for all students, regardless of their courses.
