Educationists appeal to MPs not to use NG-CDF to pay bursaries for PHD students
Dr. Vincent Gaitho,MKU Council Chairman
A panel of education experts has castigated the misuse of
the National Government-Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) by some
politicians who issue bursaries to PHD and Masters students studying in local and
foreign universities.
They say that the fund should instead be used to build
infrastructure for basic education and development projects geared towards
creating employment in the constituencies.
“It’s unfair for someone studying for a Master’s degree to
get CDF funding; it’s immoral,’’ said Maliba Arnold Nyajayi, the Strategic
Communication Advisor.
According to Dr. Vincent Gaitho, Kenya's National Association
of Private Universities Secretary General, CDF is important to very many
students across the country.
“Poverty in Kenya is on the rise due to global climate
change, which is marginalising more families and the depreciation of Kenya
shilling. Any money for education sector is welcome. Thousands of students
benefit from CDF bursaries” he said.
Dr. Gaitho noted, the issuance of bursaries from the CDF
kitty was being used by MPs to boost their popularity in the constituencies.
“It’s a popularity contest between MPs where thousands of
people are invited to the various forums where the cheques are issued,” he
said.
Dr Gaitho, who is also the chairman of the university
council at Mount Kenya University (MKU), called on MPs to focus on investing
CDF in specific development projects in their local areas.
“Each constituency is unique. Area MPs should have projects
that will put money in the pockets if their constituents. For instance, our
farmers have too much waste after every harvest - milk, maize, vegetables. The
mangoes season is coming and local markets will soon be flooded with mangoes.
We need to reduce this waste,” he said.
Dr. Gaitho recommended that a bill be introduced in
Parliament to authorise bursary funds to become revolving funds.
“Those who benefit from bursaries should pay back. Let’s
make it sustainable through a revolving fund since we are developing human
capital that eventually should become useful to the country,” he added.
No comments: