State Bans Use Of Master’s Degree In Giving Promotions To Public Officers

A new directive by a state agency stipulates that a postgraduate certificate should not be used as a determinant for giving promotions to public officers.

The new directive by the Public Service Commission states that everyone at the workplace should be given a chance as per their competence and work experience and not by use of certificates.

PSC argues that the criteria of using certificates to determine those who can be promoted undermine the quality of the agency as a public office stating that the practice should be left for the private agencies.

“In view of the transitional arrangement, the commission has suspended the requirements of the strategic leadership development program and Master’s degree as parameters for promotion of public officers to a senior position,” PSC affirmed.

For a long time, most organizations, including the state agencies, have been considering mostly those with ‘papers’ when giving promotions to senior positions.

To get promoted to senior positions at the workplace, people have been going back to school to seek a master’s degree and Ph.D. qualifications which in turn has led to the promotion of incompetent individuals.

Data by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics revealed that by June last year, 43,988 students were pursuing a Master’s degree and Ph.D. courses up from 32,977 students the previous year. In the University of Nairobi alone, students pursuing a Master’s degree and Ph.D. courses increased by 317 percent in five years.

“The commission has noted that some of the requirements for promotion may not be facilitating the acquisition of the envisioned skill, competencies and attributes required at the higher level, “PSC chairperson Stephen Kirogo argued.

However, those seeking the role of directors in the Civil service will still be required to have a minimum qualification of at least a Master’s degree.