By ROBERT NYASATO
The University Academic Staff Union (Uasu) has expressed concern over declining quality of education offered at local universities.
Uasu National Chairman Prof Sammy Kubasu said the quality of education had been affected by lack of enough lecturers, a reality the university administration does not want to acknowledge.
He said with expanded university education following the introduction of self sponsorship programmes, there was acute shortage of lecturers to meet the demand of the many university colleges being established across the country.
"Because of poor remuneration in teaching, people are not willing to pursue further studies but opt to seek jobs elsewhere where attractive packages are offered," he posed.
Kubasu said even if universities wanted to recruit lecturers, there would be no pool of qualified people to take up the opportunities.
Overstretched facilities
In an interview with The Standard before presiding over inauguration of Uasu, Kisii Chapter at Kisii University College on Friday, Kubasu said
internationally accepted standard stipulate that 40 students should be handled by one lecturer but the situation in Kenya was worrying as one lecturer handles 1000 learners in a class .
Kubasu, who was flanked by Kisii Chapter Chairman Henry Morara and Kenya National Library Association Chairman, Prof Constantine Nyamboga said the probem had been aggravated by the ever increasing student enrolment which had overstretched the available facilities.
He said with universities establishing branches all over the country, the few lecturers available, who are already overworked, are made to teach in all campus which limits interaction with learners thereby compromising quality.
"The Government must rethink its policy on higher education as the situation is worrying," he added.
