Revamp of varsity education to start as new team formed
Commission for University Education chairman Chacha Nyaigotti-Chacha addresses journalists at KICD in Nairobi on February 16, 2017 during the release of a report on university education. He said the process to revamp the sector has started. PHOTO | EVANS HABIL | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Prof Chacha said the team will comprise of chancellors, vice chancellors, and chairs of council from all universities.
- Universities have six months to establish and implement an effective electronic student and data management system that is expected to end the problem of missing marks and transcripts.
A joint working group has been constituted to monitor the implementation of the audit report on state of higher learning that was released on Thursday.
The Commission for University Education chairman Chacha Nyaigotti-Chacha said the team will comprise of chancellors, vice chancellors, and chairs of council from all universities.
Prof Chacha said university regulations and standards will also be reviewed to align with latest amendments to the Universities Act 2012.
"Stakeholders will work on the regulations within the next six months," he said on Friday.
Prof Chacha added that universities have 30 days to provide a roadmap on corrective measures that they will take to put the recommendations into effect.
Universities have also until June to establish and strengthen viable internal quality assurance structures, systems and mechanisms - which some have not yet done so.
The chairman added that universities have six months to establish and implement an effective electronic student and data management system that is expected to end the problem of missing marks and transcripts.
"These records should ensure a comprehensive capture of all students’ academic records in real time. From the 2017 graduation cycle, all universities will be expected to ensure that their students receive transcripts prior to graduating.
"Universities that fail to comply with this requirement will be sanctioned in accordance to the law," Prof Chacha added.
According to the audit, universities are not adhering to the set ratios of full time to part-time staff as provided for in the standards and guidelines.
“The number of non-academic staff was found to be high in relation to the number of academic staff. This strains the resources allocated to the core functions of teaching and learning," he said.
The report has revealed other sins such as the flouting of rules on staff promotions and irregular awarding of degrees.
For example, a private university awarded degrees to candidates who had not qualified for them, as they never met graduation requirements.
Nevertheless, Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i pledged to enforce the recommendations made in the report.
