Team set up to end rows over university courses
Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i (right) and Commission for University Education Chairman Henry Thairu during a press conference at Jogoo House, Nairobi, on January 27, 2016. A team has been set up to end professional courses accreditation. PHOTO | JEFF ANGOTE | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
Education CS said PACC will review pending cases surrounding programmes that caused disagreements between professional organisations and the universities.
PACC will also review programmes that pose difficulties in terms of acceptability in light of the changing complexities in industry.
It will also act as a one-stop shop for all information regarding the accreditation status of professional programmes.
A committee was Monday set up to harmonise the accreditation of professional and technical programmes in institutions of higher learning.
The Programme Accreditation Consultative Committee (PACC) will address the statutory conflicts that have seen some professional organisations refuse to approve courses offered by certain institutions of higher learning.
Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi said PACC will review pending cases surrounding programmes that caused disagreements between professional organisations and the universities.
PACC will also review programmes that pose difficulties in terms of acceptability in light of the changing complexities in industry.
It will also act as a one-stop shop for all information regarding the accreditation status of professional programmes.
The formation of the team follows disagreements between professional organisations such as the Engineers Registration Board and the Council of Legal Education (CLE) over the training of engineering and law programmes in some universities.
Institutions that have in the past been affected include Kisii University (law) and Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (engineering).
“We should not wait for professional organisations to outlaw a programme or students to riot over non-accreditation of a programme by a professional body before we meet to address a problem,” said Dr Matiang’i.
The minister said he convened the meeting that formed the committee to explore ways of resolving the stalemate and allay fears among students who have enrolled for the programmes, and their parents.
Representatives of 17 professional bodies, with the exception of those of the CLE, attended the meeting at the Ministry of Education headquarters at Jogoo House.
The committee will be chaired by Prof Collette Suda.
