Wetang'ula defends reforms in education sector

Speaker Moses Wetang'ula during Mt Kenya University graduation on Friday, August 5, 2023. [Gitau Wanyoike]

Reforms in education are designed to benefit learners in both public and private institutions for the purpose of exposing Kenyan students to the global market, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula has said.

Speaking during the 23rd graduation ceremony at Mount Kenya University (MKU), Wetang'ula said the myth peddled by some that the reforms are skewed towards sabotaging the private sector are false.

"The government will support both private and public institutions following the reforms recommended by the Presidential Working Party on Education Reform," he said.

The Education task force, led by Prof Raphael Munavu, has made a raft of recommendations aimed at reforming the education system from pre-primary to tertiary levels.

Parliamentary Education Committee Chairman Julius Melly said the reforms, especially on university education, will improve them to international standards without discrimination.

MKU Chairman Prof Simon Gicharu lauded the reforms, noting that they will increase productivity in research and innovation.

"It will also focus on the improvement in university international rankings, exemption of university scholarly research and innovation levies, institutionalisation of university and industry linkages and funding for higher education," said Gicharu.

During the ceremony yesterday, 6,108 students were awarded various degrees, with 15 conferred with PhDs. International Criminal Court Prosecutor Karim Khan was awarded with an honorary degree.