The National Assembly Education Committee is unhappy that the Commission of University Education (CUE) commissioners missed a second chance to address crucial questions on the state of higher education.
The meeting comes after lawmakers conducted inspection visits to various universities across the country in April 2024, which revealed significant concerns regarding the quality of education being provided.
The visits uncovered that many higher learning institutions have inadequate facilities to support the increasing student population and are also experiencing a shortage of staff.
In a meeting led by Malava MP Malulu Ijendi, legislators highlighted cases where universities, such as Kisii University and Koitalel University, were operating without qualified staff, noting that some had PhD students but lacked professors.
MPs requested information from CUE regarding the accreditation process for public universities, requesting detailed information about the accreditation process, such as the criteria for awarding university charters, the total number of charters granted over the past seven years, and the challenges encountered by CUE in its operations.
The committee is also interested in exploring the role of CUE and professional bodies in accrediting university courses, including the criteria and costs associated with the process.
The meeting was adjourned, with CUE CEO Prof Mike Kuria scheduled to appear at a later date along with the commissioners and the Principal Secretary of the State Department for Higher Education.
During the meeting, legislators underscored the difficulties encountered by the special education sector and reached a consensus to consult with the ministry regarding the funding and support for Special Needs Educational institutions.
YOU MAY ALSO READ:
By Frank Mugwe
You can also follow our social media pages on Twitter: Education News KE and Facebook: Education News Newspaper for timely updates.
>>> Click here to stay up-to-date with trending regional stories
>>> Click here to read more informed opinions on the country’s education landscape
