Outdated policies impact Kenya’s international student attraction

By Steve UMIDHA

Scholars and various stakeholders in the education sector are calling for the reform of higher education policies in Kenya, advocating for a student-centered approach if the local universities are to attract foreign learners.

Speaking during an education fair in Nairobi, Omar Mohamed, the director of Educare International, a student recruitment agency, urged the William Ruto–led administration to prioritize teacher training in new technologies, promote collaborative learning, and use digital tools to personalize outreach and streamline administrative processes.

“Local students are seeking higher education and advanced studies in foreign universities for study–abroad opportunities because we lack adequate resources, hindered by the right policies within the domestic education system,” said Mohamed, adding that better education policies will attract students to our local universities.

“To make that happen as a government, we should focus on fostering inclusive and supportive environments, implementing modern, tech-integrated teaching methods, offering relevant curricula that build critical skills, and ensuring quality infrastructure with optimal teacher-to-student ratios.”

He said the majority of local learners are largely moving abroad for studies due to better quality education, access to superior facilities, potential for better career opportunities in the global job market, and a conviction that foreign universities provide a more competitive edge compared to the Kenyan education system, which is often seen as outdated and lacking in resources.

The rallying call comes days after President William Ruto hosted 10,000 teachers across the country, where he commended the teachers for embracing dialogue over salaries and other terms of employment.

The teachers want the four-year cycle of reviewing the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the Teachers Service Commission and their unions to be reduced to two years.

Whereas the President agreed that the period should be reduced, he tasked the Teachers Service Commission, the Ministry of Education, and teacher unions to deliberate on the matter and propose the appropriate CBA period.