The government, through the Universities Funding Board (UFB), has changed the varsity funding model and now intends to base the financing on performance.
Unlike the previous model, which was based on the number of students an institution admitted, the new one will be based on, among other factors, the number of female students admitted in 'tough', lucrative courses and course completion rate or teaching efficiency.
The UFB has set up certain performance indicators aimed at rewarding the learning institutions and boosting teaching efficiency. The indicators will also help in enhancing competition among universities and research output.
The board will also consider the number of females enrolled in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) courses, and graduate employability a year after graduation.
“The UFB is establishing a performance-based funding mechanism to reward universities for efficiency in teaching, research and community service and encourages competition among universities, which will stimulate the evolution of centres of excellence,” Geoffrey Monari, the UFB CEO, told journalists.
The move to change the funding model was inspired by the high accumulation of debts left by graduates, making the state lag behind.
In the model which was introduced in 2017, university funding was based on the numbers of enrollments and the courses students took.
The government has been catering for 80 per cent of the student’s costs in the model. This, unfortunately, has led to an accumulation of debts.
“We are currently funding at 53.77 percent for public universities, compared to the 60.7 percent the previous year and the 66.4 percent we did in the year to June 2018,” Monari said.
The government’s adjustments saw higher learning institutions land in financial crises, as they suffered payroll gaps and outstanding bills with KRA, NHIF, NSSF among others.
This situation was worsened by the sharp decline in the number of students who registered for self-sponsored degree courses.
In the new model, some students who benefited from the previous model will be left out. However, those who were often left out like the postgraduate students will be considered.
UFB is optimistic that the new funding model will be the solution to cash flow challenges.
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