| Abstract | Structural Adjustment Programmes (SAPs) as propagated by the International Monetary
Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in the 1980s in Kenya occurred against a background of
the country's declining economic performance, which increased poverty levels. The
SAPs further contributed to economic recession resulting in the Government reducing per
capita expenditure on education among other social services. The result was the
introduction of cost sharing at all levels of education in Kenya. The cost sharing policy
has adversely affected many aspects of education culminating in low enrollment rates at
all levels, insufficient provision of learning resources and deterioration in the quality of
educational provision.
In the past, the state subsidized university education and consequently all students were
capable of meeting their needs from the state funds (World bank, 1997). Cost sharing has
made the cost of education unaffordable to students from poor backgrounds. The
increasing economic difficulties associated with the cost sharing have meant that
financing of education has become more costly. This paper provides research findings on
the phenomenon of university students' involvement in income generating activities
(lGAs) on campus as a response to cost sharing. These activities are not only time consuming but have direct implications on the students'
academic work and social life. A survey at the University of Nairobi revealed the types of
income generating activities (IGAs), reasons for starting IGAs, time spent on IGAs, and
the impact of IGAs on students academic work The main finding of the study was that
financial assistance to most of the students is inadequate and the quality of education
among the students involved in IGAs is highly compromised. The study recommends
that in spite the university initiative to raise funds from students to offer competitive
services, it should seek to cater for the poor students through work study programmes
that will not distract students from their studies. It also recommends that the government
should avail scholarships to finance poor students. The research contributes to both
policy and institutional decisions with regard to university education funding. |
