University stakeholders are now proposing a raft of conditions to be met if the government proceeds to merge the three funding bodies in higher education.
Speaking in Mombasa during New Year, President William Ruto said the higher education sector is set to undergo a raft of reforms.
"The government will establish the National Skill and Funding Council that amalgamates Helb, TVET and University Funding Board," Ruto said.
This he said will bridge the current higher education funding gap of up to 45 per cent.
Universities Fund CEO Geoffrey Monari said the newly established agency should have two directorates for funding and student loans.
"Higher Education Grants Management Directorate (to manage the funding of universities and TVET institutions)," Monari said.
He was speaking on Monday during a workshop attended by vice-chancellors and principals of constituent colleges.
The other agency he said would be the Higher Education Student Aid & Loans Directorate (to manage students’ scholarships, loans and bursaries).
"Two members of the boards of Helb and UFB to be appointed in the new commission to ensure a smooth transition period," he said.
The UF CEO added that TVET institutions should be absorbed under the first directorate and TVET students absorbed under the second one.
On staff working in the current agencies—Helb, TVET and UF, he said all members should be absorbed into the new organisation.
Monari said the staff should be absorbed on equal and fair terms.
"Staff should not be disadvantaged by the transition. It is proposed terms of engagement are harmonised across the board to ensure that people are remunerated in a fair manner," he said.
The universities funding board is mandated to develop transparent and fair criteria for the allocation of funds to public universities and issue conditional grants to private universities.
UF also apportions funds to public universities and issues conditional grants to private universities in accordance with the criteria established.
The mandate of Helb is to source funds and provide financing (through loans, scholarships, and bursaries) to Kenyans pursuing education in institutions of higher learning in and outside Kenya.
