Matiang'i orders closure of Presbyterian University
The Nairobi campus of Presbyterian University of East Africa, which has been ordered closed. The university first admitted students in 2008 after it was issued with a letter of interim authority on August 10, 2007.
What you need to know:
- The university lacks adequate resources to meet its obligations, officials say.
- In a report to the CS, CUE recommended that the letter of interim authority awarded to the university in 2007 be revoked.
Acting Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has revoked the operation license of Presbyterian University of East Africa.
Dr Matiang’i has directed the Commission for University Education (CUE) to start the process of winding up the university in line with the provisions of the Universities Act and university regulations.
The decision follows the recommendations made by the CUE.
SALARY ARREARS
Dr Matiang’i made the decision in a letter addressed to CUE chairman Chacha Nyaigotti-Chacha.
In a report to the CS dated January 22, CUE recommended that the letter of interim authority awarded to the university in 2007 be revoked.
The report says staff at the university have not been paid for the past two years and the institution has unpaid arrears on salaries and allowances amounting to Sh611 million.
“The university had defaulted on remittance of staff salaries, deduction to financial institutions, leading to some staff members being listed at credit reference bureau,” reads the report.
It says the university lacked adequate resources to meet its obligations given the deficit realised in the four years under review, including the 2012/2013, 2013/2014, 2014/2015 and 2015/2015/2016 financial years.
The report adds that at the School of Education, one academic leader did not have the requisite qualifications in the field of education and most of the staff records did not have copies of academic certificates.
“Salary structures were reported to be too high others too low. The employees lacked medical insurance despite the fact that it was provided for in terms and condition of service. It was established that there was a medical cover by Britam up to 2015,” says the report.
The university was found to run seven degree programmes and 27 non-degree programmes.
The report adds that in 2017/2018, 1,032 students were enrolled in degree programmes while 359 were studying in diploma, certificate and pre-university programmes.
The ratio of full-time staff (56) to part-time (33) academic staff members was found to be approximately 2:1 (1:6:1).
PUEA first admitted students in 2008 after it was issued with a letter of interim on August 10, 2007. It was yet to get a charter.
