Nairobi — Kenya's higher education woes will escalate further in the next 10 years following last year's implementation of free primary education policy, a senior World Bank official has warned.

The director of the bank, Dr Ruth Kagia, yesterday called for proper planning and expansion of facilities in both secondary schools and tertiary institutions. She said the number of Form Four candidates likely to miss university places would triple by 2014 if tangible measures were not put in place.

She was speaking during the opening ceremony of a vice-chancellors' workshop at the Utalii Hotel, Nairobi. The two-day function was organised by Kenyatta University in conjunction with the World Bank.

Kagia said the on-going reforms in public universities should take into account gender perspectives if they are to achieve desired goals.

Education Assistant minister Mrs Beth Mugo said time had come for women to be appointed as vice-chancellors of public universities. She said the gender policy would be debated by the Cabinet for adoption.

She argued that in cases where there is a male vice-chancellor, there should be a female deputy vice-chancellor and vice-versa.