A recent audit of public and private universities has laid out in the open what some have long suspected: Kenya’s public institutions are poorly funded and often disgracefully managed.
The litany of ills uncovered in the survey by the Commission for University Education is long.
It includes poor record-keeping leading to cases of missing grades, the abuse of credit accumulation or transfers and unjustifiable progression rates for some students.
The audit also unearthed academic theft leading to sub-standard thesis or research projects. There was also the unmerited award of honorary degrees.
The findings will add to the state of anxiety in Kenya’s education system. A few months ago, the new cabinet secretary for education Dr. Fred Matiang'i exposed the primary and secondary school national examinations for the fraud that they had become.
In the process of his unparalleled exam reforms, a shadowy cartel reputedly behind widespread exam leaks in the past appears to have met its match.
It wasn’t long before he turned his attention to the rot at universities, starting with the audit which has exposed monumental failures.
Each university has been directed to respond to the failures identified by coming up with remedial action plans within 30 days. Institutions which fail to act face closure.
Also in the spotlight is the Commission for University Education. As the main regulator and public trustee, they have the mandate and responsibility for licensing the establishment of universities as well as accreditation of such universities and programmes.
Therefore, these breaches are an indictment of the extent of lethargy by the commission.
For any university system, the role of institutional image and institutional reputation in the formation of public goodwill cannot be underestimated or overlooked.
This is particularly so given that universities operate in institutional environments that place great demands for accountability and transparency.
Having been allowed for such a long time, various acts of commission or omission have cast a long shadow over the long term survival of Kenya’s universities.
The audit report is just the start. Implementing the report presents an opportunity to restore the reputation of the university system.
In the long run, it is imperative that all university policies should be guided by an assessment of the level of the potential reputational risk involved just like banks do.
This is a tool of management essential for such institutions. In the UK for example regulators demand it as a best practice.
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