Engineering graduates forced to go back to class

Students who graduated from Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology with engineering degrees will have to take remedial classes.

Vice Chancellor Fredrick Otieno said the students will undergo six months training in a number of courses so that they can be recognised by the Engineering Board of Kenya (EBK).

The VC could, however, not give the exact number of graduates affected.

“We have very many of them, since the first batch cleared.”

The first batch of engineering students graduated seven years ago.

“We have a backlog of graduates who are not registered. The institution will be offering the remedial classes in specific subjects to facilitate their accreditation. We are doing all we can as an institution to correct past mistakes in the engineering department,” said the VC.

Speaking to the Press in his office, Prof Otieno said the senate has okayed the process to start offering the courses at the beginning of the next academic year.

“The studies will be offered on Friday, Saturday and Sunday in various towns including Kisumu, Nairobi, Kitale, Eldoret, Mombasa, Nyeri and Garissa where our graduates are working,” he said.

He stated the courses will also be offered through open and distance learning to cater for graduates who are outside the country, adding they will be offered at a minimal fee.

“It will be a win win situation for our former students. I know it’s tough but we want all of them to be within our resource confinement,” said the VC.

Otieno said the institution has already adhered to the EBK requirements and all engineering courses have been accredited by the board.

 INSPECTION TOUR

“All our courses in terms of relevance have been given a tick by EBK. We are waiting for the board to come for an inspection visit and survey our upgraded engineering equipment purchased at a cost of Sh100 million,” he said.

The VC said the inspection was delayed since EBK’s new officials are yet to be confirmed. Inspection had been scheduled for March 22. “We are optimistic a new board will be in place soon so that we can put to an end all the controversy,” he added.

The standoff between the university and EBK has been going on for several years and on several occasions students at the institution have gone on strike. Last year, EBK declined to register engineering courses offered at the institution until it meets the board’s requirement.

EBK stated the university curriculum did not meet the board’s guidelines, and that the institution lacked enough engineering lecturers registered by the board.