MPs Oppose Establishment of Open National University
Members of Parliament are opposed to the establishment of an Open National University. Instead, they urge the government to give priority to the pending cash crunch in universities.
The financial state of higher education in Kenya was discussed during a meeting between the Principal Secretary, Higher Education and Research Dr. Beatrice Inyangala and the Public Investments Committee on Education and Governance, which was chaired by Hon. Wamboka Jack (Bumula).
The legislators say, there is no need for the government to invest in other projects when universities are reeling under huge debts.
Speaking when he met the Committee in Nairobi, PS Inyangala, urged MPs to allow the government to establish the institution saying it is not a new project.
‘‘The Open University is a stalled project, it has been on our books since it was conceptualized in 2010. It had an allocation of Sh20 million that has been unused for the past four years,’’
Dr. Inyangala said. The PS was responding to a question from Nyamira MP, Jerusha Momanyi who sought to know why the government wants to invest more money in projects when they owe the state universities.
‘‘The estimated stalled project is Sh3.4 billion and then you have a new university called Open University. I’m wondering why it is a priority to have this during the supplementary budget when you don’t have the funds.
Is it that we are getting our priorities wrong?’’ Momanyi wondered. Lugari MP Nabii Nabwera urged the ministry to use the money to cushion students.
Nabii Nabwera asked if they could add value to the ministry by looking for funds to support the data management system and bridge the funding gap instead of seeking financing for the new university.
The PS clarified that the Open University of Kenya will provide opportunities for higher education to Kenyans who did not have a chance to get a university education, including those who dropped out of school.
The committee also blamed the government for the challenges that face universities, saying underfunding institutions has forced vice-chancellors to look for ways of keeping the institutions afloat by raising fees.
Malava MP Malulu Injendi wondered why the government was planning to increase the school fees in universities and at the same time demanding enhancement to the allocation.
‘‘I can see you want us to review school fees from Sh16,000 to Sh48,000. What you are asking for also is Sh1.8 billion for Open University, is this in good faith?’’ Injendi asked.
According to Dr. Inyangala, if the government provides the Sh8 billion for the Open University, it will only be necessary to jump-start the project before it can fund itself.
She explained that additional funding would be required to develop the program for the first three years, but after that, the Open University would become self-sustaining.
She clarified this after someone asked if the Sh8 billion amount would be final or if the government would come back to ask for more money in the future.
MPs Oppose Establishment of Open National University
