Higher education has been relegated to the back burner as public debate focuses on primary and secondary schools, which have had more pressing issues in regard to access, funding, examinations and staffing. But that does not mean that all is well in higher education.

In fact, this week, a major conference gets underway in Mombasa to address the worrying disparities in higher education.

Not only are there fewer females than males enrolled in universities, even those admitted concentrate on humanities and general degree programmes. Few are registered for professional or science and technological-based courses - yet these are the areas that promise better financial rewards.

A critical issue is streamlining operations of public universities. The first area of concern here is giving logistical backing to the institutions that were upgraded to university status last year. In particular, Kenya and Mombasa polytechnics were made university colleges, but since then, nothing has been done to appoint councils to run the institutions.

So, although the universities admitted students, they have not reported because the institutions do not have the infrastructure to mount the courses.

Second, there is a vicious power struggle at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture over the vice-chancellor's job.

In principle, vice-chancellors of public universities are meant to be appointed through a competitive process. But the reality is that there is always a great deal of meddling that renders the process suspect.

Third, there has been massive expansion of university education, which, though laudable, raises fundamental question about quality. Both public and private universities have resorted to partnering with middle-level colleges. Nobody, however, inspects those institutions to ascertain their ability to offer those programmes.

In sum, there are several critical issues that the Higher education minister has to address quickly. Our socio-economic and technological development hinges on quality higher education and training.