Kaimenyi: Varsity students getting raw deal

Education Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi has raised concern over lecturers' engagements in several universities.

Prof Kaimenyi pointed out that having lessons in multiple institutions affected lecturers' capacity to provide quality education to students.

He said such arrangements have robbed lecturers of time to do research before lectures and quality interactions with students in and outside the lecture halls.

Kaimenyi also advised lecturers to be role models to students by serving their needs and expectations with care and compassion.

He said low marks obtained in examinations students sit and missing lectures compromise the quality of education and training.

"Let us be sensitive to the students and ensure that examinations are marked and results released in time," Kaimenyi advised. Speaking during the Pan African Christian (PAC) University graduation ceremony at the institution's main campus in Nairobi, he urged all local universities to introduce undergraduate programmes on ethics to all students.

Kaimenyi said the programmes would nurture students to be sincere and honest and be people of high integrity.

"Exposure of students to standards of right and wrong practices that prescribe what humans ought to do will help them deal with personal and moral dilemmas that they face, and are likely to face when they assume offices of public trust," he said.

The Chancellor of the PAC University, Bishop Dr David Oginde, asked the Government to invest more in higher education to limit loss of foreign exchange through students who seek to study in foreign universities because of restricted access.

Kaimenyi had warned the institutions over nepotism and tribalism when recruiting their staff.