By James Ratemo
Colleges without validation from the Commission for Higher Education continue to operate with impunity.
Despite numerous warnings from the commission the rogue trainers have refused to close shop or improve standards.
In Nairobi colleges that have are approved to offer one or two courses exploit the situation to include other programmes without the knowledge of CHE.
Unlike universities that strictly abide by entry requirements, in back street colleges KCSE scores matter little.
Students with as low as D-can enrol in diploma courses provided they pay. Some offer questionable one-month bridging courses in mathematics and sciences before allowing the students to join the diploma courses. Others clain to award internationally recognised diploma courses but the calibre of students they admit is wanting.
Some colleges display certificates of authentication from internationally recognised bodies including Kenya National Examination Council, Institute of Commercial Management (UK), Association of Business Executives (ABE), City and Guilds (UK) but glaringly missing, CHE approval.
Staff calibre
In many of the college little learning takes place and the calibre of staff is poor. Diploma holders teach diploma students yet, according to guidelines, they should have atleast a degree to qualify for the job.
The Executive Secretary of the Inter-University Council of East Africa, Chacha Nyaigoti Chacha, says the commission should be empowered with various committees and professional staff to effectively vet learning institutions.
"Strengthening CHE is the bottom line. Extension and expansion are natural phenomenon but without basic standards," he says.
He says middle level colleges should not be undermined and their elevation to universities checked.
"Collaboration with universities is good but we should maintain the primary function of those colleges. If they all become universities a gap will be created in the labour market," he says. Many universities allow for transfer of diploma credits. A diploma holder takes fewer than those with only high school certificates to complete a degree. But they must be awarded by accredited colleges.
At CHE’s website (www.che.or.ke) you will find lists of institutions validated to offer diploma courses and those granted authority to collaborate with universities and the particular programmes that have been approved.