Varsity systems need radical reforms

Like any other workers, university lecturers and staff have the rights to call for industrial action. But one wonders whether the striking varsity staff ever weight all options and found that of strike the best. Were the short and long term consequences of the industrial action considered before calling for the strike?Universities have numerous programmes and activities that run on tight schedules, which include studies, exams and graduation ceremonies. The biggest casualty of the strike is the accelerated intake initiative, just adopted by public universities and which would have seen the period students take before joining public universities reduced significantly.However, the most affected are innocent students, majority of whom come from ordinary families: They are those who cannot afford overseas education, private universities or the expensive Module II programmes. The striking lecturers and other staff are not the worst paid public servants. Their counterparts in the mainstream Civil Service, the teachers and the disciplined forces with similar academic qualifications get even lower wages. Again, their counterparts in private universities are not paid any better. Most public university lecturers have side jobs with private colleges and some are even paid extra cash for teaching Module II programmes.The strike, more than anything, to many, appear to be driven by personal interests and shade of dishonest. They seem to be arm-twisting the Government by denying services to regular students while at the same time taking care of their interests by continuing with Module II students. To me and others, their demands and means of making the demand are both unjustifiable. It is time higher education in Kenya undergo radical reforms. Little is heard of strikes in private universities. What is it that make public universities so susceptible to frequent staff and students strikes? The reforms should address this question. Or should the Government privatise public universities and ensure they pay their lecturers and staff without Government support?The Ministry of Higher Education should expedite implementation of unit cost and voucher system initiatives where students would pay according to the cost of the programme and staff paid also accordingly. The voucher system would enable students choose university of their choice.The strike should serve as catalyst to institute reforms in higher education that will address national and global challenges for competitiveness and prosperity.{Argut Turgo, Via Email}The Government has once more failed in stopping the ongoing university lecturers and non-teaching workers strike. The lecturers gave a notice of at least three weeks allowing time for negotiations and it was taken lightly. The Government, as usual, is blaming the union of lecturers of defying the court case thus terming the strike illegal. But, whether the strike is illegal or genuine holds no water at the moment because as blame game continues, it’s the innocent students who are now suffering. The strike has taken another turn with the Egerton and Masinde Muliro universities and a college of Moi University sending students home. The closure of the institutions was an indication of hard situation waiting to take place in the few days to come.Though the Government may have a genuine excuse – that the money it would have paid lecturers and nurses with is being used elsewhere in the war against Al Shabaab – but one doubts why it could not come up with amicable solution earlier enough. The lecturers have a right to express their grievances thus need to be heard.The Government should come out and engage the union leaders in negotiations. It should be ready to consider the negative impact of the strike has caused so far. Or is it waiting until the situation worsens to intervene? The trend where civil servants have to strike for their grievances to be addressed should end. {Moses Ombogo, Thika}

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