The Parliamentary Education Committee has praised the progress of the Open University of Kenya (OUK), calling for a strong leadership and funding to move it forward.
Led by chairperson Julius Melly, the committee made a milestone tour of the university in Konza City to assess its performance a year after its launch.
Melly disclosed that the university, Kenya’s first fully virtual public institution, has already attracted 3,700 students, including 18 international learners.
While their target is to reach 6,000 by year-end, Melly commended the institution’s progress as remarkable given its recent establishment.
“We came to evaluate the university’s student enrollment, programmes, international footprint, and how well it is handling online and open learning,” Melly said, noting that OUK is well-positioned to transform higher education in Kenya by making it accessible to more people.
Despite the achievements, Melly highlighted critical challenges, such as the need for stable leadership and adequate funding.
The current Vice Chancellor (VC) and several professors are serving in an acting capacity, which, he emphasized, may hinder the university’s long-term growth.
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“For sustained progress, OUK needs a Vice Chancellor with a strong vision for the sector and that is why we are recommending someone with an IT background,” he stated.
Melly also raised concerns about funding, pointing to financial shortfalls from the Exchequer that may impact OUK’s ability to scale its ambitious programmes.
He called on the government to address this issue, stressing that a well-funded OUK could become a global leader in online and open learning.
By Agnes Orang’o
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