The Role of Education Funding & Tuition Increment in Promoting Social Mobility & Equality

Education is often considered a powerful tool for social and economic mobility. It has the potential to level the playing field and reduce inequality by providing individuals from diverse backgrounds with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed. In a country like Kenya, where disparities in access to quality education can be significant, ensuring equal access to education is crucial for fostering a more equitable society.

Kenya has taken extensive steps to improve educational fairness. The 2003 Free Primary Education (FPE) programme abolished school fees, decreasing enrollment inequalities across socioeconomic levels and regions. The government's subsidised secondary education programme increased access to higher levels of education. Kenya's revolutionary National Cohesion and Values Curriculum emphasises citizenship, values, and life skills to encourage holistic education. Inclusion has been pushed through digital learning efforts, such as the Digital Literacy Programme, which aims to reduce technical inequities. Furthermore, scholarship and grant programmes have evolved to help impoverished students pursue higher education, therefore promoting educational equality.

The proposed new university fee structure, present three eventualities:

• Balancing Act for Equitable Education: Governments and institutions must strike a delicate balance between greater financing and affordability. Scholarships, financial aid, and targeted subsidies can mitigate the consequences of cost hikes on disadvantaged groups. Examining the impact of fee increases and emphasising accessible education retains education's function as a leveller.
• Positive Impact of Increased Funding: Increasing education expenditures, particularly in underserved areas, has significant advantages. Education quality and accessibility are enhanced by improved infrastructure, trained educators, updated curricula, and resource availability. As a result, a larger student demography has access to excellent education, boosting social mobility and lowering inequality.
• Negative Impact of Fee Increment: Significant fee increases might create hurdles for economically disadvantaged students. As expenses rise, education may become a privilege reserved for the wealthy, furthering inequality. A setup like this erodes education's equalising role.

Striking the right balance between funding augmentation and fee affordability is pivotal for leveraging education as a tool for social mobility, poverty reduction, and workforce development, while ensuring equitable access for all. Therefore, quality education that is accessible to all citizens, irrespective of their socio-economic backgrounds, is a catalyst for social mobility, poverty reduction, and workforce enhancement, fostering innovation, economic growth, and overall development.

https://oxfordre.com/africanhistory/display/10.1093/acrefore/9780190277734.001.0001/acrefore-9780190277734-e-1272;jsessionid=027CD6C44C922DB603E24FB77ECD1AC8

https://www.universityworldnews.com/post-mobile.php?story=20230322191721226

https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/realtime/2023-07-31-explainer-how-new-higher-education-funding-model-will-work/