Why public varsities must up standards before 2014 intake

universitiy's graduation ceremony. (Photo: Courtesy)

By Grace Gitau

Kenya: It could be that more than 123,000 students are assured of a fair admission to institutions of higher learning but to most it is an assurance of ineffective learning and low quality education.

Kenyan institutions of higher education face numerous challenges. Unfortunately, little effort has been put in place to change the situation.

None of the public universities meet the internationally recommended teacher student ratio, the threshold of quality education.

It stems down to the huge enrollment, inadequacy of qualified staff and mismanagement of resources.

Annually, there is an increase in students who qualify to join university but it does not correspond to equivalent increase in number of higher learning intuitions.

The number remains constant while the elevated universities suffer shortage of staff as resources are overstretched.

Public universities and colleges face shortage and inadequacy of qualified staff. Lecturers are usually employed on grounds of corruption, nepotism and tribalism with no considerations made on their ability to administer proper education.

The private universities have succeeded in scooping qualified staff because they can pay them more; it is no wonder t substandard education in public universities is the norm.

Mismanagement of resources by the boards heading public universities is on the rise. Individual institutions prepare their plans, budgets and identify other sources of income in addition to the capitation expected from the Ministry of National Treasury.

The plans are either left unattended to or dealt with halfway with no withholding accounts on allocation of funds.

The Government needs to realise the goal quality education plays in the realisation of Vision 2030 and make reforms in the sector.

The Government should initiate changes immediately before the admission of the huge 2013 lot.

Plans to expand universities and conceive new ones should be prioritised to accommodate the increasing number of qualified students.

The process followed to employ lecturers should be reviewed. A transparent and fair process should be implemented that will only accord qualified staff jobs.

The reforms will be realised on condition that innovative, transparent, focused and honest leaders are mandated the task of heading the institutions.

Officials involved in corruption should be kicked out and dealt with by the State.