The National Assembly’s Education Committee has recommended the passage of Universities Amendment Bill (no5) of 2023, setting the stage for universities to offer only degree courses and leave certificates and diplomas to lower colleges.
A private members Bill sponsored by Embakasi Central MP Benjamin Gathiru, it seeks to bar universities from offering basic certificates and diplomas, assigning these courses exclusively to Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions.
The committee’s endorsement signals a major shift in Kenya’s higher education landscape because if the National Assembly approves, universities will surrender diploma and certificate courses to go back to the original mandate before the sub-sector was liberalized.
This could significantly impact their revenue streams, especially as many public institutions struggle with financial stability.
The Bill’s proponents argue that overlapping roles between universities and TVET institutions have led to insufficiencies such as role duplication, overcrowding in universities, and underutilization of resources in TVETs.
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By redefining institutional mandates, the proposal aims to streamline the education system, ensuring universities focus on degree and postgraduate programmes while TVETs enhance skills training at the basic and intermediate levels.
To mitigate disruptions, the Bill includes provisions allowing current diploma and certificate students at universities to complete their programmes.
However, the proposal has sparked debate, with critics warning of the financial ramifications for universities which are already grappling with declining funding and increasing operational costs.
This Bill, if passed, marks a turning point in addressing structural inefficiencies in Kenya’s education sector and enhancing the technical training agenda to meet labour market demands.
By Jane Riana
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