Kenyan varsities to go on offering diplomas

NAIROBI: Universities will continue offering diploma and certificate programmes after the amended Universities Act was assented into law by President Uhuru Kenyatta.

The Universities Act 2012 and Technical and Vocational Education and Training Act of 2013 had barred universities from offering diploma and certificate courses but an amendment late last year reversed the decision.

The two Acts established the Commission for University Education (CUE) to supervise degrees and post-graduate diplomas while the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) was mandated to oversee diplomas and certificates.

DISTINCT MANDATES

The laws gave universities and middle-level colleges distinct mandates but the amendment has led to overlapping of roles.

Section 20 (e) of the Act that was amended states: “A university that is granted a Charter may award degrees, including honorary degrees. However, in the amended version universities can now offer certificate courses as well as diploma courses. Kenya Association of Technical institutions Chairman Edwin Tarno said the amendment was in bad faith.

“The enactment of the law was to regulate the mushrooming colleges offering substandard courses. It was also intended to improve quality and consistence,” he said.

Education Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi was quoted saying that universities must concentrate on degree courses.