The National Assembly’s Committee on Education and Research has proposed the approval of a Bill that calls for restricting universities from offering basic certificates and diplomas.
If passed, the Universities (Amendment) Bill (No. 5) 2023 will prevent universities from collecting the revenue they have relied on from the diploma and certificate courses.
Public universities across the country will therefore be limited to offering degree and postgraduate programs.
Sponsored by Embakasi Central Member of Parliament Benjamin Gathiru, the Bill seeks to address the overlapping roles of universities and TVET institutions.
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Other Proposals in the Bill
According to Gathiru, the diploma and certificate courses should be exclusively offered by Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions.
The National Assembly’s Committee on Education has supported the move.
Further, the committee noted that the overlap in roles of various institutions has led to duplication, overcrowding in universities, and inefficient use of resources.
Additionally, it highlighted inconsistencies in the quality, content, and duration of diploma and certificate courses.
The current education system allows both the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA) and the Commission for University Education (CUE) to certify courses.
However, the committee believes this causes regulatory conflicts and confusion in the education sector.
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What Next for University Students
If passed, the bill has proposed that students who are already enrolled in such courses be allowed to complete them without disruption.
However, moving forward, universities will only be permitted to offer postgraduate certificates and diplomas, leaving basic diploma and certificate courses to TVET institutions.
Also, the bill aims to prevent the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) from placing students in diploma and certificate programmes offered by universities.
Moreover, it seeks to streamline the appointment of chancellors for public universities by removing the Public Service Commission (PSC) from the process.
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