Maureen Olel

Privatization of Higher Education: Effect of Privately Sponsored Students Programme on Efficiency and Equity in Public Universities Maureen Olel

Public Universities in Sub-Saharan Africa have been undergoing challenging times. This is directly linked to cutbacks in the government budget and subsidy in higher education on one hand, and the rapid increase in the demand for higher education on the other hand. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of privately sponsored students programmes on efficiency and equity in university education. Since these programmes are fee-paying and private in nature, the study adopted its theoretical framework from the economic theory of privatization, which states that privatization (of education services) improves efficiency, increases output and lowers costs. Although the introduction of the Privately Sponsored Students Programmes has led to congestion and overstretching of the already inadequate teaching and learning facilities, the gains cannot be ignored. The management of public universities and stakeholders should work towards streamlining the Privately Sponsored Students Programmes to ensure its sustainability alongside Quality Assurance Measures, guided by prescribed Performance Indicators.