By Kamundia Muriithi
Some 1,563 students were overjoyed as they received various Certificates, Diplomas, Bachelors and Postgraduate Degrees during a graduation ceremony held at the University of Embu on Friday. The congregation was the sixth for the university and the second to be held virtually due to the challenge of the Covid-19 pandemic.
There was a major increase in the number from 2020 when the fast growing institution graduated 1,137 candidates.
Education Cabinet Prof. George Magoha graced the occasion while the University Chancellor Prof. Wambua Musili conferred the certificates during the ceremony witnessed by many at the institution’s premises and online.
Also present was the University of Embu Council Chairman, Dr. Kennedy Okong’o, and the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Daniel Mugendi among other academicians and dignitaries.
CS Magoha, who was the chief guest, urged the graduates to be job creators not seekers by making use of the knowledge gained in school.
“Do not fool yourselves to stay for 10 years awaiting employment when you can be adaptable and take what is available,” the CS said.
Prof. Magoha also dismissed the critics of Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), saying it was the best thing to ever happen to the country’s education system.
He criticized the push from some quarters to have teachers trained on the CBC again, saying it is impossible.
“We have a duty not to confuse our over five million children by engaging in unnecessary debates. About 228, 000 teachers had been adequately trained contrary to assertions from the naysayers,” said Magoha.
The CS said CBC is there to stay because it was focusing on testing competencies and skills of the learners other than ranking which has marred the system of education for long time.
The CBC has received criticism from stakeholders and also political class with them saying its implementation was rushed without proper lay out of how the system will be run.
In his remarks, Prof. Musili called on the Class of 2021 graduands to continue to uphold the good image of the University in whatever they do and wherever you go.
Noting that the Covid-19 pandemic had caused many disruptions including having to hold a virtual graduation, he called on the fresh graduates to use the online interaction tools they have been accustomed to at the University as great weapons for their success in the future world of work and business.
The Vice Chancellor Prof. Daniel Mugendi noted that in the five years since the institution was awarded the University Charter by the President on 7th October 2016, it became a formidable player in the higher education sector.
“It is now a renowned intellectual hub for researchers, scholars, students, staff and a source of economic empowerment for the community. Our programmes are now attracting students from far and wide. Students are choosing to come to the University of Embu as their first choice,” he said.
Prof. Mugendi also announced that the University was in the process of establishing the Institute of Technology and Capacity Building (ITCD) which will be the Technical and Vocational Education and Training wing of the University.
He continued that the institute will be offering prospective students technical and professional courses at Diploma and Certificate level.
“The students in the institute will then have an opportunity to progress with their studies to the undergraduate level through a well-established credit transfer and waiver system,” he said.
From its humble beginnings as Embu University College with 123 pioneer students, the student population is now at 9,410 during the 2021/2022 Academic Year, up from 8,435 in the 2020/2021 Academic Year.
Last week, the university admitted 2,475 first year students for various Bachelors, Diploma and Certificate and Postgraduate programmes.
In performance ranking, the University of Embu was ranked the top performing State Corporation during the 2019/2020 Public Service Performance Contracting Evaluations.
The evaluations were done by the Public Service Performance Management and Monitoring Unit (PSPMMU).
The University Strategic Plan for 2018-2028 is currently under implementation.
Prof. Mugendi informed that they were now in the third year of implementation and so far had made tremendous achievements, specifically: Establishment and furnishing the School of Law, installation of 117kw Solar Energy systems which is part of 200kw in the strategic plan, expansion of Production Facilities (Water Bottling, Yoghurt and Cleaning Solutions production) and Installation of CCTV and Security Enhancement facilities.
Ongoing infrastructural development initiatives under the Strategic Plan period include construction and furnishing of the new tuition block projected to be completed in December 2021 and construction of the new science laboratory complex which is planned to begin in the next Financial Year.
