Public varsities struggle to respond to demand for degrees

By Harold Ayodo

Public universities are not keeping up with increased demand for higher education, says Education Minister Sam Ongeri.

Prof Ongeri said rapid expansion of higher education over the past decades has not solved challenges of access, quality and equity.

"There remains the headache of inadequate capacity to cater for growing demand for places in public universities," he said.

Recently, the Ministry of Higher Education proposed a double intake in public universities in the 2011/2012 academic year, putting administrators of the institutions on the spot.

Last year, there were 140,000 higher education students — 110,000 in public universities and 30,000 in private institutions — compared with 91,500 students in 2005.

Rigidity

There are seven public universities and 13 constituent colleges countrywide that cannot admit thousands of students who attain the minimum entry grade of C+.

"There is also a mismatch between skills acquired by graduates and demands of the ever competitive job market," Prof Ongeri said.

He made the remarks in a speech read on his behalf by Education Secretary Prof George Godia at the Educational Management Society of Kenya international conference.

The three-day conference that drew participants from public universities was at the University of Nairobi, Kenya Science Campus.

Scholars who attended the conference presented 50 academic papers towards improving management of education in the country.

Ongeri said there was a gross imbalance between the population of students studying science and arts based courses. "A rigid admission criterion that excludes possibilities of credit transfers amongst universities and other post secondary institutions is wanting," Ongeri said.

The minister said gender and regional disparities in terms of admission and courses undertaken were challenges that must be addressed ahead of Vision 2030.

"We shall provide scholarships based on the need of the economy, targeted bursaries and loans taking the needy and gender disparity into consideration," he said.

He challenged universities to constantly review curricular towards addressing emerging concerns of the economy.

"University education plays a crucial role in national development…the training should therefore be demand-driven and technologically informed," he said.