Magoha advises universities against setting up additional campuses

Higher learning institutions have been discouraged by the Education Cs Prof. George Magoha from establishing additional campuses across the country.

Prof. Magoha spoke this while opening the University Education conference for one week in Nairobi, and which has been organized by the World bank.

Magoha noted how it was unnecessary to set up a campus even in places where established universities existed.

Already Moi University plans to close doors to two of its campuses in Kitale and Odera Akango, owing to lack of learners.

At the same time, the Commission for University Education has already called upon the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), to stop operations for Kakamega and Eldoret campuses over quality concerns.

Magoha asked the Vice Chancellors not to focus on numbers but rather the quality of graduates, noting on the need to merge some programmes offered.

There are currently 74 universities having 542,005 learners. Vice-Chancellors have given the government's decision to join some higher learning institutions a cold shoulder with claims that more universities are needed to accommodate the growing number of learners.

The May 2019 World Bank report revealed how Kenyan universities produced half-baked learners, as they were only taught how to cram and replicate notes during exams.

In 2019, almost 90,000 students got placed in public and private universities in a placement exercise which started in January until April.

However, the 2020 placement is yet to kick-off, leaving 2019 candidates in darkness on when to join the campus.

Like 125,746 students got a C+ in 2019 exams, which is an entry point for university admissions.

Kenya University and Colleges Central Placement Services (KUCCPS) is yet to open its portal for revision by students. The opening should have been done in January before a final list is compiled in April.

KUCCPS is reportedly waiting for the Education Ministry's approval to open the portal, as reported by KUCCPS CEO John Muraguri. "We are likely to work behind the schedule since many applications may jam the portal," said one of the IT experts for KUCCPS.