Lawmakers Question CUE Over 277000 Freshman Slots in Universities.
In the ongoing scrutiny of university admissions in Kenya, Members of Parliament are raising red flags about the Commission for University Education (CUE) approving a staggering 277,000 freshman slots across public and private universities for the upcoming academic year.
During the 2024-2025 student placement cycle, concerns were voiced by the National Assembly Committee on Education regarding the capacity and readiness of universities, especially Kisii University, which was permitted to admit 16,464 first-year students. This number raised eyebrows among lawmakers, given the questions surrounding the adequacy of academic staff and infrastructure to accommodate such a massive influx of students.
At the heart of the issue lies the discrepancy between declared capacities and practical capabilities. Kisii University, despite being relatively new, claimed a capacity to house 16,000 students, surpassing even older and more established institutions. This declaration prompted MPs to delve deeper into the approval process conducted by the CUE.
According to documents presented to the committee on June 11, Kisii University tops the list with the highest number of vacancies, closely followed by Kenyatta University. Maseno University stands at 10,821 vacancies, while the University of Nairobi, Karatina University, and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) have 10,211, 9,180, and 8,903 vacancies respectively.
Marcela Mwaka, Head of Programme Accreditation at CUE, faced a barrage of questions regarding Kisii University’s capacity declaration. The CUE, responsible for accrediting university programs, evaluates factors such as academic staff and infrastructure. However, concerns were raised about the rationale behind approving such large capacities without sufficient evidence of infrastructure readiness.
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Ms. Mwaka, while defending the process, admitted challenges in explaining the specifics of Kisii University’s infrastructure that warranted the green light for admitting such a substantial number of students. Despite these challenges, she highlighted that Kisii University boasts 82 bachelor’s degree programs and 317 academic staff members, including three full professors and 11 associate professors.
The committee further pressed on the number of lecture rooms (91), computer labs (7), and science laboratories available at Kisii University. Committee chairperson Julius Melly emphasized the need for a physical verification of these claims, indicating a scheduled visit to the university for confirmation.
Other lawmakers, including Siaya woman representative Christine Ombaka and Kabondo Kasipul MP Eve Obara, echoed concerns about the practicality of admitting 16,000 first-year students without overburdening the existing infrastructure and academic staff. Clive Gisairo, MP for Kitutu Masaba, pointed out the implausibility of Kisii University’s declared capacity given its current infrastructure limitations.
The committee’s planned visit to Kisii University aims to ascertain the ground realities and align them with the CUE’s approvals. Additionally, discussions with CUE in the upcoming week will delve into the carrying capacities of local universities, ensuring that future admissions align with realistic infrastructure capabilities.
In summary, ongoing scrutiny emphasizes the necessity for transparency and accountability in university admissions, ensuring that universities substantiate declared capacities with robust infrastructure and academic support systems.
Lawmakers Question CUE Over 277000 Freshman Slots in Universities.
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