The ruckus triggered by threats from the Commission for University Education (CUE) to close Kisii University does not bode well for the education sector. The university has said it will ignore orders that it closes 10 campuses in various parts of the country even though it has been directed to do so, if it fails to answer queries on compliance and standards spelt out by CUE.
Last week there were demonstrations by some students when it emerged campuses in Eldoret, Eldama Ravine, Nyamira, Kabarnet, Migori, Ogembo, Keroka, Kehancha, Kapenguria and Isebania may be targeted for closure within 90 days because they had infringed CUE regulations. The 10 colleges were given 90 days to wind up and relocate 15,000 students to other accredited campuses.
The university insists that it operates within the law and has complied with all regulations. The governing councils of Kisii and Laikipia universities have now been summoned to meet the Ministry of Education officials over alleged non-compliance of university regulations. The meeting will also be attended by CUE officials who recommended the closures following an audit report by the commission.
This is an important meeting and can be used as a platform to address many of the sticking points raised over the standard of university education. The CUE must also be made to understand that blanket statements and threats do not help in resolving issues revolving around quality assurance. The commission must have been well aware of the some problems that come with the rapid expansion of tertiary education. We must get answers about why universities are authorised to open campuses when it is clear that they are ill-equipped to provide students with requisite services and instruction.
For instance, the universities standards and guidelines require all campuses be located in an environment that is conducive for learning. “These include but are not limited to bars, nightclubs, casinos and brothels,” reads a section of the guidelines. But how many times do we see campuses located on buildings that house bars and other business activities that can distract students?
Where there have been authorisations for expansion, the Ministry must establish who gave the authorisations. Otherwise we will be dealing with the symptoms of a huge problem and not the problem itself.
As the ministry prepares to review the education sector and the curriculum in general, all issues of quality must be addressed so that students do not pay the price for ill-thought out actions by authorities.
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