The Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms (PWPER) has recommended that all varsities should be barred from offering diploma and certificate courses.
If the recommendation is passed in Parliament and assented to by the president, these levels of academic certifications will only be taught and awarded in middle level colleges. This will consequently lead to increased enrollment in colleges and reduced enrollment in universities.
The proposal was made during a validation meeting held by education stakeholders at the Centre for Mathematics, Science and Technology Education in Africa (CEMASTEA) on June 6, 2023.
If the proposal is adopted, an amendment to the Universities Act Section 20 (1) (e) would be instituted.
This matter has been adjudicated in court twice.
In 2015, the Kenya National Association of Private Colleges (KENAPCO) moved to the High Court claiming they were the institutions licensed to offer diploma, certificates and bridging courses under the Technical and Vocational Training Authority (TIVETA) Act.
In 2021, the high court in Nairobi dismissed a case filed by Robinson Kioko would have barred universities from teaching certificate and diploma courses.
Kioko asked the court to declare Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendment) Act 8 of 2014 unconstitutional
By Thuita Jaswant
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