PhDs from JKUAT since 2014 were not correctly earned, CUE says

Findings of the inquiry into Doctor of Philosophy Degrees offered at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) reveal a major deficiency in the quality of degree certificates from the institution in the job market.

The Commission for University Education (CUE) has confirmed that the high number of PhD awards from JKUAT since 2014 were not correctly earned.

In the last three graduations held in June and November 2018 as well as June 2019, a total of 327 PhD degrees and 2, 101 masters’ degrees were awarded.

JKUAT offering 118 PhD awards in June alone this year

Out of the 327 PhDs offered within 12 months ,241 were from the College of Human Resource Development, 26 from the College of Health Sciences, 16 from the College of Pure and Applied Sciences, 14 from the College of Agricultural and Natural resources among others…..

The audit established that a critical number of the teaching staff identified as supervisors were based in the main campus putting into question the quality of training of the majority of PhD Graduates trained in satellite Campuses…

It was observed that many of the supervisors were carrying a supervision load that is beyond the recommended threshold of 3 PhDs and 5 Masters in any given academic year.

Instead, in the last three graduations, the supervisors graduated 41, 30, and 33 PhD students respectively.

Each of the three supervisors also graduated 45, 106 and 72 Masters students …

In addition to supervising candidates at masters’ and PhD levels to completion, these supervisors were involved in supervising ongoing PhD and Masters students and teaching undergraduate students.

Further, some were still holding administrative positions, a scenario CUE says compromises the quality of post graduate training and research in the University..

It was further observed that some examiners reports were not duly signed either by all or in some cases by some thus putting to doubt their authenticity.

Most students published two papers in the same Issue of a journal, Some of the journals published were non-existent.

For 2019, Out of the 118 PhD graduates, 112 had been approved by the Senate and their names appeared in the Graduation booklet while the remaining six were administratively approved for graduation by the Vice Chancellor on behalf of the senate and their names were also published in the graduation booklet.

On Monday, Education CS George Magoha reiterated his earlier remarks that higher education as currently established requires a radical surgery with options of closing down some universities and doing away with some courses now looming large.