Government to Abolish Parallel Degree Programs

Education Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed has announced plans by the government to scrap off parallel degree programs from public universities.

The self-sponsorship programwas launched in 1999 and has been the major source of revenue for public universities in the country. The move is part of continued efforts by government to clean up the education sector in the country.

On Thursday, Amina unveiled an inter-ministerial task force which will look into education systems and delivery of services in the institutions of higher learning. The team will in the next 30 days review successes and challenges of the Module II Programme in the development of university education and training.

“Time has come to make resolute and necessary decisions to restore quality learning in our universities,” Ms Mohamed said.

“Most students are actually quarter baked due to lecturers’ strikes and absenteeism of lecturers,” she said.

The CS pointed out that lecturers working in more than one university have weakened the essential student-lecturer contact. “The committee has the responsibility to review the general security situation in public universities and advise on implications on teaching and learning," she said.