Student leader drafts Bill to regulate university fees

Kenya Private Universities Student Association (KPUSA) Secretary General Victor Mwalu is curretly working on a Bill seeking to increase university funding to enable students afford university education.

Mwalu alias Sultan has in the past few weeks made headlines for agitating for student affairs on issues pertaining the fee increment.

University students have a reason to smile after the Education CS Ezekiel Machogu refuted claims that that the government has no plans to increase university fees from the current Sh 16,000 to Sh52,000 as earlier reported.

CS Machogu also said that the government has no plans to privatise Universities as earlier alleged.

Mwalu who is currently working on a bill to propose an increase of funds in University Funding states that most of the problems within the education sector stem from the general increase in poverty levels and inequalities across the country.

"Our country is struggling to improve an underfunded school system with school reforms that promise changes in overall structure and curriculum design. The increasing cost of education is pushing the global goal of "Education for All" beyond the reach of more and more children from poor families, leading to a steady increase in the number of dropouts," Mwalu said.

While applauding the Education CS on rescinding the decision on the proposed fee increment, Mwalu called on the government to engage education stakeholders, policymakers, universities and student leaders in future decision-making.

Mwalu also raised concerns about some lecturers especially in public universities who he accused of taking advantage of the economic situation in the country to benefit from supplementary exam money.

"My opinion is that a standard fee should be set across all universities both public and private concerning supplementary exams especially this time that many lecturers are taking advantage of the current tough economic times," Mwalu said.