The higher education sub-sector has
witnessed exponential growth in the recent past despite the industrial unrests
which have now become a norm. As countries like Gambia have only two
universities, Kenya boasts of ten public universities and several private
universities with the University of Eldoret, Narok and Kimathi Universities
receiving their charters last week. Consequently, the number of students
joining universities has increased over the recent years. This is a positive
step given that the country is aiming to achieve a middle income status by the
year 2030.
However, the university colleges are
growing at an alarming rate. Some have argued that the rapid growth should be
taken positively given that it is increasing access to higher education. Other pundits,
on the other hand have argued that, the growth is due to power struggle in the
university management where everybody wants to be a Principal, Finance Officer
or the Vice Chancellor when the constituent college becomes fully fledged
university. Others have attributed the mushrooming of the university colleges
to politics where politicians want to have institutions of higher learning in
their counties.
One
of the adverse effects is that they take over middle level colleges which offer
diploma and certificate programs. This has left a vacuum which has created a
crisis whereby students who do not attain minimum grade for university entry
lack a place to further their education. At this time, we only have two
national polytechnics, that is, Eldoret and Kisumu Polytechnics which have
resisted attempts to be taken-over by the universities. The constituent
colleges also duplicate degree programs and as a result, we have excess supply
of some professionals in the job market. Moreover, universities offer similar
programs.
Kenyans
have shown significant interest in education but caution should be taken so
that we do not end up with 47 or more universities not to mention the private
universities which are also growing fast. It is therefore necessary to regulate
the university colleges. The number of students taken to pursue different
degree programs should be regulated to avoid surplus professionals and they
should also diversify the degree programs.
