Have vision 2030 as you design programmes, CHE tells universities

By NICHOLAS ANYUOR

Commission for Higher Education has challenged Universities to re-align their programmes towards achieving the Government's Vision 2030 plan.

The Commission’s Chairman Prof Ezra Maritim said that for Kenya to realize new levels of development, both public and private universities must develop programmes capable of marshalling and harnessing the necessary skills and talents in the students.

"We must therefore endeavour to re-align our programmes to be in work with expectations of the vision," he said in a message he sent to the universities during the 9th Exhibition held at Gulf Hotel in Kakamega, on the weekend.

Prof Maritim said such exhibitions should be supported to create an opportunity for the institutions to market themselves to give opportunity for the stakeholders, parents and students to interact and make informed opinions on what courses to pursue.

This year’s Universities Exhibition attracted over 4, 000 students and parents from secondary schools and colleges from Nyanza, Western and Rift Valley provinces.

Over 30 universities and university colleges participated in the three-day event that started Thursday last week.

In his message, Professor Everett Standa, the Commission’s Secretary, called upon the universities to help the Government in transforming the country into an industrialized middle-income economy.

"It is our duty as the major stakeholders in the higher education sector to put our programmes to be in tandem with the expectations of the vision," he said.

Standa said Kenyan Universities should provide quality education that would produce the necessary manpower for socio-economic development.

He added it was through relevant and appropriate education that individuals and societies would be transformed in ways that reduce poverty and increase global competitiveness and develop human capital.

"We are thanking the Ministry for its support in the exhibitions and for its participation. This can bring a change to the education sector in Kenya," he said.