- Last week, the department asked for Sh250 million but this week they requested Sh1.8 billion.
- PS Beatrice Inyangala said the open university has been stalling for years.
Image: WILFRED NYANGARESI
MPs have questioned the urgency of the establishment of an open university that would cost Sh1.8 billion.
According to the 2022/2023 budget supplementary estimates, there has been no allocation for the open university, yet.
Igembe North MP Julius Taitum said the Ministry of Education has many projects which are still at the teething stage.
Therefore, he asked if the ministry could postpone the establishment of an Open University until there's a proper plan.
"This ministry has so many projects at the teething stage, can't we wait until things stabilize to establish the new institution?" Taitum posed.
Kabondo Kasipul MP Eve Obara asked about the concept behind setting up the proposed university.
"Do we have lecturers to teach and what courses will they teach, what's the plan for the university?" Obara said.
The education committee vice chair Malulu Injendi queried the reason for establishing a different institution, alongside the existing others.
“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 higher education state department had requested Sh1.8 billion to facilitate its establishment.
Last week, the department asked for Sh250 million but this week they requested Sh1.8 billion.
PS Beatrice Inyangala said the open university has been stalling for years.
“It’s not a new project. Since 2010, a blueprint was developed and money paid to CUE to accredit NOU,” she said.
She added that a charter had been developed and the task force reviewed the blueprint and eventually developed a proposal.
The university is set to offer six programs at the bachelor's level and two at the postgraduate level.
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.
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, a Bachelor in Technology Education and a Bachelor of Data Science.
Others are Bachelor of Science in Business and Entrepreneurship, Bachelor of Economics and Statistics and Bachelor of Science in Agri-Technology and Food Systems.
Postgraduate diploma courses include Leadership and Accountability, Learning Design and Technology.