Ministry of EAC Cabinet Secretary (CS) Nominee Beatrice Askul was at pains explaining her educational background during her vetting as a CS.
Askul was cornered by the vetting committee on Appointments to explain how she managed to attain a degree certificate without a bridging course, having not acquired the required grade for university.
According to Askul’s Curriculum Vitae (CV), the nominee boasts of both a degree and master’s certificate. The appointments committee however highlighted a gap in her education background which raised questions on how she managed to acquire them having only attained a certificate.
“I have looked into your educational background; I realize a gap. You start from a trade test, a certificate, then there is a gap then you have a degree then you have a masters. So how did you obtain a degree without a linking diploma? she was questioned.
On her part, the nominee failed to make the committee understand her education background when she argued that she lacked a bridging course certificate which made her attend a degree course for four years instead of three.
Beatrice Askul on Academic Qualifications
The CS nominee argued that she acquired her degree certificate after completing four years in university instead of the three that she could have had to complete if she had a diploma.
“Actually, what happened is that I took a certificate course that was examined by the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC). The fact that I have no diploma means that if I had diploma, I would have reduced my degree years to three and because I didn’t have a diploma I had again to go for degree for four years one extra added had been added,” she said in her submission.
Beatrice Askul while making her submission on relief food sustainability said that if approved, she will explore other alternatives to ensure that those who supply the country with relief food don’t feel as if they are doing the country a favor.
“Those who supply relief food to us feel when they cushion us from droughts, they’re doing us a good service…I would explore other alternatives like putting a market where you give a safety net provision to the beneficiaries, where they’re able to buy things of their choice,” she said.
Joho on his Academic Qualifications
Askul joins former Mombasa Governor and Ministry of mining CS Ali Hassan Joho as nominees who have been asked by the Committee on Appointments to clarify their academic qualifications.
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On his part, Joho while speaking before the committee on Sunday, August 4, Joho revealed that he in fact has several degrees which he said that he acquired them after becoming a businessman in different sectors.
The CS finished his high school education in Mombasa and did different businesses before he embarked on his journey to acquiring the degrees.
“After I finished secondary school, I ventured into business. I set up a clearing and forwarding company in Mombasa. I diversified into fintech, real estate and logistics. That is up to 2004, where I began by grassroot elections. I became the chairman of NDP.
“In 2006, I embarked on a journey to acquire my first degree. I did my bridging course, a diploma in 2007 and graduated from Kampala university in 2013.
“I did another degree from Gretsa University in Thika and after, I enrolled in Havard Kennedy University for a Public Leadership credential program to attain a degree in public administration,” he stated.
Additionally, Joho explained that he went through several challenges including coming from a poor background.
He however said that he overcame those challenges, including paying part of his high school fees.
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