Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Principal Secretary (PS) Dr. Esther Thaara Muoria has called on financially-able parents to pay for university and college tuition fees for their children and stop depending on government funds.
The PS, who was speaking at Nyeri National Polytechnic during issuance of the Qualifications Awarding Institution (QAI) accreditation certificate to the institution, said that some students who receive sponsorship from government are able to sponsor themselves.
She said that some parents are able to enroll their children in expensive primary schools which require them to spend money equivalent to university tuition fees.
“We do not become poor when our children join colleges. For those students that the government need to help, we are doing the best we can. We will do what it takes to ensure all students are in school but the rich should at least support their children,” the PS said.
She noted that government funds are not enough to cater for all students and should be allowed to only support less fortunate students.
Dr. Muoria also called on public institutions of higher learning to be innovative and find ways to raise finances and stop depending solely on the government’s support.
Nyeri Town Constituency Member of Parliament (MP) Maina Mathenge challenged the State to increase bursary funds to constituencies and ensure equality in allocation of the monies.
“Government must provide equality to students and we must begin a debate on the formula to use for allocation of bursaries. It’s unfair that a child in Nyeri can’t go to school but in other regions a student can get full scholarship,” the MP said.
The government is planning to stop paying tuition fees for students joining private universities through a new funding model for universities and TVET institutions that will be student-centred, where financing will be apportioned to individuals according to their level of need.
Earlier, Education Cabinet Secretary (CS) Ezekiel Machogu said it is part of reforms in the higher education sector to make public universities financially sustainable.
By Obegi Malack
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