Deal makes it easy to study across the border

By Ken Ramani

As the Inter-University Council of East Africa (IUCEA) grapples with regional education standardisation, Makerere University and Mount Kenya University (MKU) have forged a historic academic collaboration.

According to the deal that is causing ripples in the education sector, Kenyan and Ugandan students admitted by the two institutions will be free to study in their campuses without being subjected to any pre-conditions.

Prof Chacha Nyaigotti Chacha, the Secretary to IUCEA, hailed the collaboration of the institutions. "The move rightly follows in IUCEA’s encouragement of regional institutions to share research and engage in student and faculty exchange programmes," said Chacha.

Credit Transfers

He said with the signing of MoUs between the regional universities, credit transfer would now be possible. "A student can be admitted at MKU and after two years, transfer credits to Makerere to complete the course and vice versa."

Chacha said the commissions of higher education in the EAC member countries had signed MoUs to recognise institutions and qualifications from institutions each of them has recognised.

Kenyans flocking Ugandan universities are required to take A-Level studies and if they pass, join university for a three-year degree programme. Kenyan candidates with diploma qualifications gain direct entry into Ugandan universities.

Kenyans also pay more fees than Ugandans studying at Makerere. But with the signing of the pact, the students will pay the MKU fees structure but pursue Makerere programmes.

Harmonise Education

IUCEA has over the years made attempts to harmonise regional education system.

But due to the 8-4-4 system of education pursued by Kenya while the 7-4-2-3 system is used by Uganda and Tanzania, harmonisation has not been easy .

With the joining of EAC by Rwanda and Burundi, which are Francophone states, Chacha said a mechanism is being worked out on who joins which university.

The IUCEA boss said EAC would soon commission a study on the establishment of an education equating criteria for the member countries. "With secondary school certificate equating criteria in place, we are sure the frustrations of joining universities will be greatly reduced," said Chacha during an interview.

MKU Kenya University will start offering Makerere University programmes this year.