| dc.description.abstract | This was a case study, which adopted descriptive research design. According to Best (1970), descriptive research is concerned with conditions or relationships that exist; practices that prevail; beliefs, points of view or attitudes that are held; processes that are going on; effects that are being felt; or trends that are developing. At times, descriptive research is concerned with how what is or what exists is related to some proceeding event that has influenced or affected a present condition or event. The purpose of the study was to find out how cost sharing has impacted on university education at CEES and what can be done to ensure that the vulnerable groups of students are cushioned from any adverse effects of cost sharing.
The target population included regular undergraduate students of CEES, CEES administrators and HELB officials. Purposive sampling was used to select fourth year students to represent the entire regular under graduate student population. This was because the group has been in the college for a longer period hence likely to provide more information than the rest. CEES administrators and HELB officials were also purposively selected depending on their ability to provide the information required. Simple random sampling was used to select 151 fourth year students out of 1509 students as proposed by Mugenda and Mugenda (1999). They, quoting from Gay (1983) recommend 10% of cases in descriptive studies.
Three sets of questionnaires, one for students, one for CEES administrators and one for HELB officials were used to gather information. Data was descriptively analysed using the statistical package for social Sciences (SPSS). Frequency distributions, percentages,
x
means and modes were used to present the data while information that could not be
quantified was subjected to content analysis.
After data analysis, the following were the findings:
1. There are some students who do not take up their places at CEES as a result of financial difficulties.
2. Majority of parents/ guardians are unable to adequately meet the cost of university education.
3. The amount of money at the disposal of the majority of students is inadequate to meet the cost of their academic programmes.
4. Students are using various methods to subsidize the cost of their academic programmes. These methods include selling various items at the halls of residence, prostitution, foregoing meals, doing some odd jobs, soliciting for funds from relatives and friends and carrying foodstuffs from home.
5. Some students have been dropping out as a result of financial difficulties.
6. Time spent on income generating activities could interfere with students' academic work.
7. Approximately 95.8% of applicants are considered for loan awards of varying amounts. However, majority of the applicants are not awarded what they apply for.
8. The distribution of loans and bursary was found to be inequitable.
The study findings led to the following recommendations>
1. There is need for HELB to refine its means test so that equitability is seen to prevail. Corruption should also be rooted out.
2. Although the board has done a lot to improve loan recovery, more could still be done.
3. Maximum and minimum loan and bursary awards need to be reviewed after every five years so as to take care of inflation.
4. Automatic amount of loan for all applicants needs to be arrived at.
5. There is need for student involvement in the loaning process so that fairness is seen to prevail. This would enhance public confidence in the Board and also stump out allegations of corruption.
6. HELB needs to decentralize either to the district or university level so as to achieve efficiency.
7. There is need to increase government allocation to HELB.
8. HELB needs to explore additional sources of funds apart from government allocation and loan recovery.
9. The bursary scheme under the Ministry of Education Science and Technology should be merged with the one under HELB for harmonisation of services and ease of administration. This would also cut down the administrative cost.
10. The various universities need to intensify income-generating activities as well as work study programmes so that they are able to assist their needy students.
11. A central cooking place, which is safe, needs to be constructed for students who prefer preparing own meals.
12. Money meant for meals could be channelled directly to the catering department so that all students are assured; of meals so as to alleviate suffering for lack of food.
Prices of meals at student's cafeteria could also be reduced further to enable more students eat from there.
13. There is need for HELB to educate potential loan applicants about the availability of the facility as well as the need to avoid debts by avoiding HELB loan where possible.
14. Districts or constituencies need to be encouraged to have bursary funds to assist
needy university students | en |
