The National Assembly and the Senate are inviting the public to submit their memoranda on the proposed bills on education.
The Universities (Amendment) (No 5) Bill 2023, is sponsored by MP Benjamin Gathiru and seeks to amend the University Act 2012 to limit Universities from offering the certificate and diploma courses.
The Learners with Disabilities Bill, 2023 (Senate Bill No. 4 of 2023) is co-sponsored by Senator Margaret Kamar and Senator Crystal Asige seeking to provide legal framework for the actualisation of the right to education for learners with disabilities at all levels of education.
The bill on public universities was proposed on February 13, 2024 by Gathiru, Mp for Embakasi Central. In his submission, the legislator said that Universities are supposed to be institution of higher learning and academic research, meaning that they should only offer degree and postgraduate programmes.
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This proposal rhymes with the recommendations contained in the report submitted last year by the Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms (PWPER), a task force that had been appointed by President William Ruto to address the challenges that had bedevilled the country’s education sector for long.
In their report PWPER members proposed that universities be barred from offering certificates and diplomas so that they can focus on degree programmes for optimum qualities.
On the Learners with Disabilities Bill, it aims to aims to pave way for inclusive education of learners with disabilities and outlines the responsibilities of educational institutions in accommodating their needs.
According to Parliament, Kenya has ratified several international conventions related to the right to basic education.
The two Bills need public participation to move to the next level.
By Brian Ndigo
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