By Our Reporter
The Government is in the process of establishing the National Open University of Kenya in a bid to make university education more affordable, accessible and attainable to all students.
Education Cabinet Secretary (CS) Ezekiel Machogu has said the move is among the far-reaching reforms the Ministry is putting in place to address the costliness of university education in the country.
“One of the flagship initiatives that the Kenya Kwanza administration is currently undertaking to enhance access to affordable university education is the establishment of the National Open University of Kenya. Once established, it will make university education more affordable, accessible and attainable to all students, no matter their location or income level,” he said.
The CS made the remarks yesterday while presiding over the 10th Graduation Ceremony of Pwani University, where a total of 1,203 graduands were conferred various degrees.
“Our ultimate goal is to ensure that we have an accessible, affordable and functional education system that is globally competitive and responsive to the demands of national and international development,” he added.
He said the availability of skilled and knowledgeable manpower is vital in solving divergent needs and challenges of modern society including; globalization, technological advancement, climate change, poverty, cyber security and the burden of diseases.
“The role of universities in training, research and innovation cannot be overstated. This is a critical sub-sector that is of direct relevance to our national and regional development agenda”, the CS noted.
Machogu also called on universities to explore ways of addressing the financial challenges facing them.
“Our universities should utilize their internal capacities to overcome the challenges they face. The current difficulties call for innovative solutions. Our universities should, for example, develop and strengthen unique niches that contribute to both the national and global development agenda in order to attract local and international students for training and research,” added the Cabinet Secretary.
The CS congratulated the graduands and challenged them to be ready for a labor market that requires critical thinkers with innovative ways in providing practical solutions to the problems facing the society.
Accompanying the Cabinet Secretary was Basic Education Principal Secretary Dr. Belio Kipsang among other National and County Government officials.
