Public institutions plan hiring freeze as privates move to dispose assets
University enrollment declined to 520,893 this year from 564,507 recorded a year ago
The sharp drop in the number KCSE candidates scoring the C+ and above grade required for university entry cut enrolment by 43,614 last year on the reduction of parallel degree students, further worsening the institutions’ cash flows.
Data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) shows university enrollment declined to 520,893 this year from 564,507 recorded a year ago—making it the first drop since the government stated making public student numbers in the 1990s.
Admission to public universities of nearly all students who scored C+ and above over the past two years has reduced the pool of learners available for private universities and parallel degree students in public universities.
“Student enrollment in both public and private is expected to decrease by 8.2 per cent and 5 per cent respectively in 2017/2018,” said the KNBS.
This is a departure from past trends where enrollment in both public and private universities has increased in double-digits on expansion by institutions and the rising appetite for higher education.
The rise in enrolment puts pressure on the government to create jobs for graduates whose number stood at 62,000 in 2002 amid a slowdown in the creation of new jobs.
Public universities admissions stood at 363,334 in 2014 compared to the current 439,965, down from 479,965 in 2016, reflecting the drop of parallel degree students. Those in private universities dropped from 85,195 to the current 80,925.
The falling student enrolment look set to ease pressure on facilities at a time the institutions are struggling to raise cash for upgrade.
It will also ease pressure on the Higher Education Loans Board (Helb), which has struggled to cater to the needs of students, many of whom are from poor families.
The drop also came in a year when the number of public universities campuses increased to 168 last year from 115 a year earlier while courses offered by rose to 2,807 from 2,066 in 2016.
University of Nairobi Vice-chancellor Peter Mbithi warned that the institution will not renew contracts for staff hired on temporary terms following dwindling numbers of Module II programme or self-sponsored students.
The drop in candidates that meet the C+ cut off grade has also hit private universities hard.
Cash-strapped Kenya Methodist University in March said it is seeking to sell a prime office block in Nairobi to clear a Co-operative Bank loan, tax and staff dues.
In January the Catholic University of Eastern Africa placed its three-floor Kisumu campus property on sale, a month after it halted business in order to expenses.
Presbyterian University of East Africa has also put on sale 34 acres of land in Kikuyu at Sh40 million to solve its financial crisis.
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