Viewpoints | Jul 25,2020
A dire situation unfolds across public universities, where students face the harsh reality of declining food quality and quantity, a problem seen as a manifestation of a broader crisis across the higher education system. Over the past three years, college students have seen a reduction in the variety and portion sizes of meals, compounded by rising food prices. It forces many to reconsider their meal plans, despite the universities' billions of Birr in annual budget. The struggle to maintain adequate food services amidst inflation is a common thread across the country's higher education institutions. With a paltry daily food budget of 22 Br for a student, universities are barely keeping up with the rising cost of living, which outstrips the nominal increases in their budgets.
Guche Gule, the recently appointed president of Wolaita Sodo University, has had to alter the cafeteria menu to include cheaper staples like rice and pasta more frequently due to the soaring costs of traditional ingredients. At Arbaminch University, 500Km south of the capital, the crisis has led to the breakdown of established supply chains. Student leaders say the University is now buying food directly from vendors as temporary relief after the primary food supplier withdrew due to the untenable economic environment. Dila University has cut its academic year by 15 days to stretch its budget further, uncovering the depth of the financial woes faced by these institutions.
The situation is exacerbated by a national policy that has not adjusted adequately to the economic realities. Despite a recent increase, the daily meal allocation of 22 Br for a student is grossly insufficient compared to the rising costs of essential commodities, leading to significant nutritional and academic repercussions. Samuel Kifle, acting president of Addis Abeba University, advocates for a more targeted approach to financial aid, urging scholarships for the neediest students and a thorough overhaul of the subsidy system.
In response to the escalating crisis, a consortium of public universities has been actively lobbying the federal government for increased funding. The Ministry of Education has formed a committee to explore long-term solutions, including the possibility of university autonomy and the introduction of student loans and financial credit systems — strategies that aim to address the dependency on state subsidies. The broader economic context cannot be ignored as the federal government wrestles with a budget deficit and prioritises austerity measures, including debt servicing, which consumes a considerable share of the national budget. Its fiscal conservatism affects higher education institutions and the broader economy, challenging the sustainability of public higher education in an era of acute fiscal constraints and calls for solutions to preserve the academic future of the country's youth.
You can read the full story here
PUBLISHED ON
Apr 28,2024 [ VOL
25 , NO
1252]
Viewpoints | Jul 25,2020
Radar | Jun 11,2022
Radar | Sep 28,2019
Viewpoints | Jun 27,2020
Fortune News | Jun 18,2022
Radar | May 23,2020
Fortune News | May 25,2019
Radar | Jan 23,2021
Editorial | Oct 03,2020
Fortune News | Jan 15,2022
Aug 18 , 2024 . By AKSAH ITALO
Although predictable Yonas Zerihun's job in the ride-hailing service is not immune to...
Jul 13 , 2024 . By AKSAH ITALO
Investors who rely on tractors, trucks, and field vehicles for commuting, transportin...
Jul 13 , 2024 . By MUNIR SHEMSU
The cracks in Ethiopia's higher education system were laid bare during a synthesis re...
Jul 13 , 2024 . By AKSAH ITALO
Construction authorities have unveiled a price adjustment implementation manual for s...
Nov 16 , 2024
In the realm of public finance, balance sheets speak louder than rhetoric. In such do...
Nov 9 , 2024
Ethiopia's foreign exchange debacle resembles a tangled web of contradictions and con...
Nov 2 , 2024
Addis Abeba, fondly dubbed a 'New Flower,' is wilting under the weight of unchecked u...
Oct 26 , 2024
When flames devoured parts of Mercato, residents watched helplessly as decades of toi...
Loading your updates...