Privatization of Higher Education in Public Universities in Kenya: A Recipe for Sustainable Development

Abstract

In pursuit of the millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Education for All (EFA) goals, Kenya institutionalized free primary education (2003) and free secondary education (2008) to accord the citizenry indiscriminate access to quality public education regardless of their socio-economic and cultural orientations. These remarkable developments in education have culminated in an ever increasing demand for higher education in the country and beyond. On an annual basis, available slots in public universities are far outweighed by the overwhelming number of school leavers who qualify for admission into these institutions. This inexorable thirst for higher education has not only generated debate in many formal and informal circles, but is of great concern among relevant government authorities. This is because higher education and training is instrumental in transforming Kenya into a newly industrializing middle income economy. The imbalance between available places at public universities vis-a-vis the consistently growing number of applicants has prompted re-invention and expansion of public universities' education programmes to accommodate the private segment of education and training in the institutions. These private programmes are popularly known as module II or Privately Sponsored Students Programmes (PSSP). The official recognition and entrenchment of PSSP in public universities' academic calendars confirms that privatization of higher education is a significant recipe for sustainable development and therefore an initiative which is probably here to stay. The beneficiaries of education and training at this higher level are empowered with knowledge, skills and techniques to engage in meaningful productive activities that enhance generation of wealth to the individual and the nation. This paper surveys the essence of privatization of higher education in public universities in Kenya in a bid to appraise and offer functional adjustments to enhance its impact on sustainable development.