Why quality education requires regular and predictable funding

UASU national secretary general Constantine Wasonga addresses a past press conference on lecturers strike. [File, Standard]

As we prepare for the season of goodwill and peace on earth and celebrate the birth of Saviour Jesus Christ, many of us are not at peace and goodwill is missing from our lives. Workers unions have had the roughest time, playing strike and return-to-work-after-pay-promises game with the government and relevant stakeholders.

Medical practitioners and public universities staff have borne the worst brunt of unkept pay promises by government. Medics were threatening to down their tools yet again however, this was averted only this week, after a meeting with the government that cooled temperatures and saw them return to work.

At the end of October, public universities striking staff agreed to return to work after an elaborately worked out Return-To-Work-Formula (RTWF) agreement was signed between UASU and all stakeholders with a promise that the RTWF payments shall be reflected in the December 2024 pay-slips.

Although not all universities staff have been paid their December 2024 salaries, indications from those already paid are that there has been no change and the October RTWF agreement is yet another broken promised. Why should government and stakeholders in public universities make promises they know they will not keep?

Are they sending a message to unions that they should not be believed or trusted by workers? These workers provide services diligently and pay taxes, which enable the government to function. Yet, they are not adequately compensated and the government owes monies to them in unpaid CBAs and arrears.

In fact, staff of most public universities have not received both vertical and horizontal annual increments for years and are stuck in the same financial quagmire and job grade rut for ages while their counterparts hired through the Public Service Commission and other Service Commissions are catered for.

Strangely, while the law prohibits employees’ disadvantage through reduced salaries, this is precisely what has happened with staff of public universities. Affordable Housing Levy and SHA deductions have dug deep holes in their salary slips as there is no annual increment to plug these holes.

Furthermore, because of the significantly reduced and delayed capitation from government to public universities, there is a real danger of many universities collapsing if something is not done urgently. To make matters worse a semester has ended without remittances being made under the new University Funding Model.

Financial crisis in public universities continues to undermine and compromise quality of education because of lack of teaching aids, laboratories materials and maintenance, lack of research funds and facilities, lack of budgets for library materials, resources and subscriptions making delivery of curriculum and implementation of teaching programmes extra tough.

This will potentially result in serious challenges that will make the situation precarious and inimical to the entire education sector. Good and quality education is important not just because it makes us knowledgeable and provides the skills and expertise we require to navigate life, secure better jobs, contribute to society, and make informed decisions, it is important because without it we have no future for our children and even for democracy, governance, rule of law and protection of human rights.

We need education to lead more fulfilling lives, enhance critical thinking and have abilities for problem-solving and to boost economic growth through a skilled workforce. Good and quality education empowers us to achieve our full potential and to create a better future for ourselves, our communities and our country.

Good and quality education requires sustained, adequate, committed and predictable financial and material investment. Intermittent funding that is not a priority for the government, risks undermining the education sector. Sustainable Development Goal 4, requires all governments to “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.”

Most university lecturers are lifelong learners, who although already possess PhDs, continue to teach, conduct research, write and innovate and to inform policy, legislation, governance and to ensure sustainable development for Kenya. One cannot teach, do research, write and innovate without reading and learning every day.

Public education requires adequate and proper national planning and budgeting that is regular, predictable and incremental to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education. If the government fails in the education sector, it will fail in all other sectors because quality and inclusive education is the key enabler and facilitator of sustainable growth and development, that no country can do without.

Koki Muli-Grignon a Democracy, Governance, and Elections Expert works for South Eastern Kenya University in Kitui County.