A section of Nakuru middle level colleges are now happy after Education Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi Thursday told universities to stop offering certificate and diploma courses.
Online College of Business Management Peter Maina has said this will help different colleges have a gain in the education sector unlike now when they are forced to be partially partners of various universities.
Prof Kaimenyi said those courses should be left to the technical institutions.
“It is sad that universities are scrambling to offer training in certificate and diploma courses yet they are supposed to be higher education institutions,” Prof Kaimenyi said.
John Ngugi the principal at Retsam College in Gilgil, who spoke to this writer on phone says they are delighted since there will be fair competition for education services at college level.
“We will now be able to compete among us coz we will not scramble with the universities available.”
The minister directed the Commission for University Education (CUE) to address the issue.
“I expect CUE to play its oversight role so that these universities can focus on their mandate of providing undergraduate and post-graduate training. We should do what we are best at and allow others, such as middle-level colleges, to play their roles,” he said.
The cabinet secretary also said universities and middle-level colleges should have quality assurance departments to ensure they maintain high standards.