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{
    "id": 1220144,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1220144/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 99,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Bumula, DAP-K",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Wanami Wamboka",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "So, from the foregoing, Hon. Members will appreciate that policy precedes appropriation and audit and, therefore, these matters are cyclic in nature and need concerted efforts from all of us. I would also like to implore the Departmental Committee on Education chaired by the able Hon. Melly to kindly look at the policy issues surrounding this matter. Even as the Committee audits those universities and the amounts advanced as per our mandate, drastic policy actions need to be taken as follows: (i) This House, through the upcoming budget cycle, needs to increase ceilings to social sectors – specifically education in this case – that will have the highest impact to the public. (ii) Review of the policy on placement of Government sponsored students to private universities since the capacity gap between slots available in public universities vis-a-vis qualified students is now non-existent. (iii) Amend the Universities Act and the Higher Education Loans Board Act, according public universities first priority to fill up their slots up to 100 per cent before a student is financed through capitation in a private entity. Students who willingly choose private education must surely be capable of funding the same. (iv) Fully operationalize the Universities Fund to enable them directly disburse funds to public universities, as envisaged by Section 53(1) and (2) of the Universities Act. (v) Re-look at the policy of upgrade of colleges to universities, and consider urging the Government to merge smaller entities to larger universities with going concern. This will see closure of non-strategic campuses and programmes. (vi) Standardize corporate governance in public universities. (vii) Work with the Ministry through the Universities Fund and devise means of sustainability of these public universities including optimization of idle assets of which the Committee has been seeing in their books of accounts. Hon. Deputy Speaker, this is an urgent matter that if not arrested, will see the collapse of this critical service that should ideally provide human capital to power the economy. The education system must be salvaged. I must confirm that the Public Investments Committee on Education and Governance has already requested for a special audit of all funds issued to private universities under the aforementioned scheme and I undertake that the Committee’s report will leave no stone unturned, towards ensuring sustenance of these public institutions. Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker."
}