Legislators have inquired about the rationale of setting up the Open University of Kenya to be domiciled at JKUAT.
The MPs were speaking when the state department for Higher Education appeared before the National Assembly Education committee on Friday.
The committee vice chairman Malulu Injendi asked why there’s a need to invest in an Open University when existing higher education institutions are suffering.
“You are painting a negative picture of universities. When even Helb and other universities don’t have money, you’re raising money to build an Open University,” Injendi said.
The Malava constituency MP said the government should invest in already existing institutions that struggling to stay afloat.
“I thought you invest in what you already have. Why are you building another one yet we have some struggling? he asked.
The government is set to spend Sh250 million in setting up the Open University of Kenya.
The Open University will operate like other institutions but will only have virtual classes and no physical learning.
Kabondo Kasipul MP Eve Obara asked about the concept behind setting up the proposed university.
“Will it finally be a fully-fledged university?” Obara aked.
Higher Education PS Beatrice Inyangala responded, saying the institution will embrace digital technology.
Inyangala added that the cost of setting up physical infrastructure will have been reduced.
“Here students can move from certificate to degree. It’s a solution for students who have dropped out of university,” she said.
According to a notice in the local dailies, the ministry wishes to work with experts to develop programmes for the first phase.
The courses listed include a Bachelor of Science in Cyber Security and Digital Forensics, Bachelor in Technology Education and Bachelor of Data Science.
Others are Bachelor of Science in Business and Entrepreneurship, Bachelor of Economic and Statistics and Bachelor of Science in Agri-Technology and Food Systems.
Postgraduate diploma courses include Leadership and Accountability, Learning Design and Technology.
