Kenyan Cabinet Secretary suspends setting up of new public universities

Professor George Magoha, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for education has suspended the establishment of new public universities, saying that the country already had adequate institutions of higher learning.

George Magoha made the announcement in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi during a forum on university education. “I have received requests to increase the number of universities… you must apply the brakes,” he said.

Magoha said that some regions in Kenya had many universities offering similar courses, which was not sustainable. “No money will come from government to support you,” he told university administrators.

According to the Commission for University Education (CUE), Kenya has 31 public universities, 25 of which were established after 2007. The institutions offer hundreds of courses to students. He directed that the institutions streamline their operations and if possible consider mergers in the future, as reported by CTGN Africa.

“Rationalisation of academic programmes should be done. If possible the existing universities can be consolidated,” he said. Magoha directed CUE to prepare a report regarding the status of universities, qualification of academic and support staff, supervision of students, lecturer to students ratio, and facilities and equipment for teaching.

He said the report should be submitted to the Ministry by July 31 this year.

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