The Ministry of Education has put on notice all middle level institutions in the country which are not accredited.
Education Principal Secretary Dr Richard Belio revealed the government is currently putting in place measures to close down such institutions and ensure quality education in the country.
Dr Belio said the government is in the process of harmonizing higher education in the country in a bid to weed out institutions which swindle Kenyans money by offering unproductive education to learners.
Speaking on Thursday after opening the 12th Kenyan Universities Exhibition at Poa Place Resort in Eldoret town, Uasin Gishu County, Dr Belio said the government has established bodies which seek to ensure that Kenyans get quality education and value for their money.
The PS said the main challenge that his ministry has been facing over the years is the collaboration among institutions to offer academic programs to students.
He singled out the Technical Vocational Training Authority (TVTA) as the main authority that will oversee the operations of all middle level institutions of higher learning in the country.
He noted that the new body will do standards and regulations that will guide on how colleges and universities will collaborate in offering academic programs.
“The government is currently at the tail end of starting an institution called, The Technical Vocational Training Authority which will be looking at the middle level institutions just the same way the Commission of University Education is charged with the mandate of supervising the operations of universities in the country,” he said.
At the same time, Dr Belio challenged universities to be innovative by bringing down the costs of education they offer to students. He said high costs in the Kenyan higher education system were the main reason why many students seek education outside the country.
“To retain students in our local universities, institutions need to reduce the fees they charge the learners or else they will keep on moving to Uganda and Tanzania where the costs are less,” he said.
The Commission of University Education (CUE) chief executive officer Prof David Some assured Kenyans that TVTA will be transparent, accountable and fair to everyone regardless of their socio-economic status.
“Every student who qualifies to be in the University will have a fair chance despite his or her background. What matters is their academic achievement and our hope and wish as a board is to ensure all students in this country get quality education at the end of the day,” Prof Some said.
The exhibition which has been running for the past 12 years attracted 64 universities out of the 66 in the country this year where students were given a chance to interact freely with Professors.
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