Parliament Proposes Discontinuation of Diploma and Certificate Programs in Kenyan Universities

If the proposals put forth by Embakasi Central lawmaker Benjamin Gathiru are approved by Parliament, the inclusion of basic diploma and certificate courses in university academic programmes will be eliminated.

Gathiru's proposal centres around a fundamental reshuffling of priorities, mirroring the sentiments expressed by the Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms (PWPER) in their report. Emphasizing the importance of degree and postgraduate programs, the bill seeks to redirect universities towards their primary purpose of advanced education and scholarly exploration. The primary motivation behind this suggested transformation is the pursuit of excellence and uniformity.

By consolidating certificate and diploma courses within technical and vocational colleges, the bill seeks to streamline accreditation processes and enhance the academic rigour of these programs. Also, this strategic realignment is envisioned to address the perennial issue of low enrollment in technical institutions despite significant government investment. A transformative change is on the horizon for the field of education should Gathiru's proposed legislation gain approval. If the legislative proposal is implemented, universities will cease accepting new students for diploma and certificate programs.

However, those currently enrolled in these courses will be permitted to finish their studies, as the restrictions will solely apply to new admissions. Raphael Munavu's PWPER report highlights the negative consequences of universities expanding into the territory that has traditionally been occupied by colleges. It states that when universities offer similar programs, they unintentionally attract students away from technical institutions, causing a continuous cycle of underutilization and inefficiency.