Study reveals acute shortage of accredited engineering programmes

A newly released report on engineering studies in the country shows that only slightly over a half of the more than 10,000 students who studied engineering courses have graduated from accredited institutions.

The report whose launch was graced by Education Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang’i on Tuesday at the Intercontinental Hotel in Nairobi shows a serious shortage of engineering courses needed to meet the country’s demand for expertise in the sector.

The just released report which is based on research was conducted by the Kenya Education Network and the Board of Kenya Engineers and is aimed at making radical changes in the provision of engineering courses.

The report indicated that only 12 public universities were offering engineering programs in the country while no private university offered such engineering programmes.

The study further shows that 59 percent of the 10,343 graduates were in programmes accredited by the Engineers Board of Kenya.

The board has thus recommended that no student should be admitted into the engineering degree programmes that have not been accredited.

The Education CS has welcomed the findings saying that in the past, lack of proper data has affected the allocation of resources to universities.

Matiang’i further asked those tasked with running institutions of higher learning to be honest about the quality of education they offer.

The CS warned that no university would be allowed to set up satellite campuses unless it meets the set standards hence challenging the management of universities and research institutions to up their game.

Also present during the launch was the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Education, representatives of the Commission for University Education, university vice chancellors and several Chief Executive Officers of different companies.