Ending dons' strike welcome, but seek a lasting solution

After 26 days of no learning, students from public universities have a reason to smile after the Ministry of Education and the University Academic Staff Union leaders reached a deal Saturday.

This offers a huge reprieve for students, parents and academic staff, who have endured prolonged uncertainty and disruptions. The government agreed to avail Sh9.6 billion to cater for staff salaries and learning is expected to resume tomorrow.

Still, the majority of public universities are in dire financial straits and can hardly pay daily operations. And while the current deal has ended the stalemate, it is imperative to reflect on the deeper systemic issues that fuel such crises and chart a sustainable path. The days lost represent more than just missed lectures—they signify disrupted academic calendars, stretched spending for students and an erosion of public trust in higher education. 

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UASU’s commitment to recover this lost time is laudable, but universities must adopt innovative strategies to ensure no student is left behind. Weekend classes, compressed semester schedules, and expanded online learning could help mitigate the impact of lost time. Beyond immediate recovery, institutions should establish crisis management frameworks that prevent such prolonged closures. The wage increment for lecturers, while justified, raises valid concerns on the sustainability of Kenya’s public university system. 

The lowest-paid academic staff will now take home a significantly improved salary, with senior professors receiving substantial raises. This will undoubtedly improve morale and attract talent, but it places immense pressure on stretched university budgets.

The government must address the root cause of financial instability in public universities. A versatile approach could include streamlining administrative expenses, promoting research grants and endowments, and encouraging partnerships with private sector players to diversify funding. Additionally, universities could adopt a performance-based pay system to ensure resources are aligned with productivity and impact. One of the fundamental triggers of this strike was the government’s perceived failure to honour past agreements. As much as the return-to-work formula provides short-term relief, its credibility will depend on timely implementation. 

The recurrent strikes are symptomatic of a deeper crisis. To break this cycle, Kenya needs a long-term vision for higher education that aligns funding, quality and access. The government, academic staff, and university administrations must collectively commit to addressing the underlying issues. Without adequate resources, research has been relegated to the backburner. This denies the country ground-breaking innovations and solutions.

With discipline, commitment to meritocracy, zero-tolerance to corruption and much-needed political goodwill, our public universities should be citadels of excellence.