Varsity and college Students feel left out of BBI report

Varsity and college students during the previous meeting in Nairobi. They feel the BBI report did not cover real issues affecting institutions of higher learning. [Amos Lumbasi, Standard]

University and college students have criticised the BBI taskforce for not taking into account problems afflicting institutions of higher learning.

The student leaders said the BBI report only made recommendations that affect the country’s top leadership structure yet it was to make recommendations on all matters affecting Kenyans.

Kenya University Student Organisation (KUSO) Coordinator Eric Ochola said higher education has become more expensive to students, especially needy ones.

“Many students do not apply for the Higher Education Loans Board (Helb) for fear that they will be blacklisted soon after they complete their studies.

Higher education

The report should have proposed that Helb be made a grant, not a loans body,” he said.

Technical and Vocational Education and Training Students Association (TVETSA) Chairman Eugene Ketsa said they expected the BBI report to highlight how to improve the quality of higher education.

He said most learning centres in the country have no facilities yet they run academic programmes.

“It’s worrying that the BBI report only carried special interests,” Mr Ketsa said.

The student leaders said the report should also have addressed college politics and elections.