University of Nairobi Set to Scrap Over 40 Courses

The University of Nairobi (UON) has identified more than 40 programs that are set to be scrapped.

The scrapping of the courses is said to be part of the renewed efforts to reform university education in the country as directed by Education Cabinet Secretary Prof. George Magoha.

Some of the programs lined up for scrapping have reportedly failed to attract any students in the last five years, according to The Sunday Standard.

The affected courses are listed in a report dubbed Rationalization of Academic Program, which was recently tabled before the University's Senate.

The document, which contains recommendations by more than 10 faculties, states that the programs set for scrapping were either duplicated or have been replaced.

The marked programs range from certificate, diploma, bachelors, masters, and Ph.D.

The most-affected courses are found in the departments of agriculture, mathematics, population studies, and research institute, nursing science, translation and interpretation, biological sciences, African women studies, arts, Institute of anthropology, gender and African studies and physical sciences.

Some of the marked courses include Ph.D. in Agriculture, BSc in Industrial Mathematics, Ph.D. in Applied Statistics, Ph.D. in Mathematics, BSc in Microbiology and Biotechnology, BSc in Biology, BSc in Environmental Conservation and Natural Resources Management.

Others are MSc in Agriculture Entomology, MSc in Medical and Veterinary Entomology, Ph.D. in Applied Microbiology, Ph.D. in Plant Ecology, Ph.D. in Terrestrial Plant Ecology and Ph.D. in Aquatic Plant Ecology.

Certificate in Chemistry, BSc in Chemistry, Bachelor of Science, BSc in Environmental Geoscience (code 117 and 127), Postgraduate Diploma in Environment, Natural Disaster Management, BSc in Microprocessor Technology and Instrumentation, BSc in Astronomy and Astrophysics, Bachelor of Science (atmospheric science) and PhD in Environmental Chemistry are also on the list.

Others listed for scrapping include Master of Science in Environmental and Analytical Chemistry, Master of Science in Pure Chemistry, Master of Science in Inorganic Chemistry and Master of Science in Organic Chemistry and BSc in Environmental Chemistry (code 143 and code 143m3), Diploma in Water Resources Management, Diploma in Strategic and Security Studies, Postgraduate Diploma in Labor Relations, postgraduate Diploma in Armed Conflicts, postgraduate Diploma in Advance Disaster and postgraduate Diploma in Security Studies.

CS Magoha has also given public universities vice chancellors two weeks to recommend which universities and constituent colleges should be merged or shut down in the major reforms plan.