Parallel degrees faulted at meeting

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Trade minister Moses Wetang’ula and other participants called for the regulation of the programmes. Photo/FILE 

By DAVID ADUDA daduda@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Friday, July 6  2012 at  23:30

IN SUMMARY

• Programmes enrol many students yet there are few lectures and inadequate facilities

Parallel degree programmes offered in public universities were on Friday faulted for diluting the quality of higher education.

Participants at an education conference in Naivasha complained that the funds generated from the programmes were neither audited nor accounted for.

The programmes enrolled more students yet there were fewer lecturers and facilities, the conference noted.

Trade minister Moses Wetang’ula and other participants called for the regulation of the programmes, saying they should admit qualified students and offer quality education.

Mr Wetang’ula said the programmes promoted inequality as they admitted students from well-to-do families, who were able to pay the high fees levied at the expense of those from poor backgrounds.

Students who did not get good grades ended up enrolling for lucrative courses like medicine and law under the parallel degree programmes, yet those from poor backgrounds but with better grades, were locked out.

The minister urged the government to allocate three per cent of the national budget to research and technology to promote innovation.

An official of the University Academic Staff Union (Uasu), Dr Charles Mukhwaya, said funds generated from the programmes did not benefit the universities, as they were spent on paying allowances.

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Middle-level colleges

However, Higher Education permanent secretary Crispus Kiamba clarified that funds from the programmes were audited by the Auditor General.

Butula MP Alfred Odhiambo faulted the government for undermining middle-level colleges by upgrading them to universities without replacement. He called for the promotion of technical and vocational education to give a chance to those who did not qualify for university education.

Prof Kiamba argued that the upgrade was not intended to kill middle-level colleges, saying the process was regulated and was meant to develop the institution.

More than 30 MPs and education stakeholders attended the conference at the Great Rift Valley Lodge in Naivasha chaired by Mosop MP David Koech.

In a communiqué read by secretary for Higher Education Harry Kaane, the meeting resolved that pre-primary schooling be incorporated into primary education and children enrolled in pre-school to transit to primary and secondary education without hitches.

It was also resolved that three per cent of the budget be allocated to technical, vocational education and training.

In addition, university chancellor posts will be advertised and filled competitively when a proposed Bill becomes law.

Public universities will also be inspected and quality of their programmes checked by a new body to be known as Commission for University Education. This commission will replace the Commission for Higher Education.

This will mark the end of a system where public university programmes are never inspected by external agencies because they operate under autonomous laws. The Commission for Higher Education inspects private universities.

Presenting the proposed Universities Bill of 2012, the director of Higher Education, Dr Salome Gichura, said the government aimed at expanding university admissions to absorb more students completing Form Four.

With the Bill, all universities will operate under one law and will have to appoint new councils and senates.

Three Bills were presented for discussion, namely: Technical, Vocational Education and Training; Kenya Qualifications Framework and National Council for Science and Technology.

Discussing the Bills, Prof Kivutha Kibwana, an adviser of President Kibaki on Constitution matters, proposed that language and culture be taught at the lower levels in line with the Constitution.

Law lecturer Ben Sihanya called for the harmonisation of all education laws.

The Secretary of Higher Education Loans Board, Mr Benjamin Cheboi, asked for more funds to be able to provide loans and bursaries to all deserving students.