Bill endorses stiff penalties for illegal universities

Institutions that offer degrees through universities that are not accredited would be slapped with a fine of Sh10 million or face a three-year jail term.

This was one of the amendments to the Universities Bill, 2012 that MPs passed to regulate the operations of the institutions of higher learning.

Nominated MP Millie Odhiambo said such individuals must be made to pay heavily as it is painful for Kenyans to invest in education only to realise that papers awarded to their children are worthless.

Ms Odhiambo also amended the Bill to ensure each of the 47 counties gets a public university.

The Bill also requires the Cabinet Secretary in charge of Higher Education to publish, in at least three national newspapers, the lists of universities accredited to undertake university education in Kenya. The publications shall be done at the beginning of every year and every quarter of the year, thereafter.

Foreign universities would be required to submit proof of accreditation from their countries of origin.

Higher Education Minister Prof Margaret Kamar said this would help the Government monitor foreign universities.

“This provision would strengthen our surveillance on foreign universities,” said the minister.

There have been cases of universities not accredited offering degree courses to unsuspecting students and MPs said this must be brought.

The Bill, which provides for the establishment, accreditation and governance of public and private universities, establishes the Commission for University Education as a successor to the current Commission for Higher Education.

The Bill would also regulate the location of university campuses and compels universities to have a students’ body, elected by students.

And students having disciplinary cases would now have an option of getting legal representation within the institutions, during the execution of their cases.

The Bill, that now awaits assent by the President, establishes the Universities Fund and also provides for procedure for  placement of the Government sponsored students to universities and colleges.

In the Bill both the Chancellor and the Vice-Chancellor in public universities would serve for a term of five years and shall be eligible for a further term of five years.

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