Only the CUE Has the Mandate to Accredit Courses, Says Ntarangwi

Some professional bodies are still pushing to have the responsibility of approving university courses although this task was already handed over to the Commission for University Education(CUE), last year.

As it stands CUE is the only body mandated with the right to regulate standards and accredit courses in consultation with individual universities.

The Appellate court made this decision and affirmed CUEs powers to regulate courses to bring to and the confusion between the commission and several other professional bodies that demanded they also have the right to perform this task.

In a letter dated June 23^rd and copied to all the vice-chancellors of universities and principals of colleges CUE Chief Executive, Mwendwa Ntarangwi pointed out that the bodies have breached court orders and will not be tolerated anymore.

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“It has come to the knowledge of the commission that professional bodies continue to purport to accredit or approve university courses. On a sad note, and despite court judgment, some professional bodies continue to engage universities with little regard, if any to the commission. This is not only contemptuous but also disregard to the sub-sector regulator,” said Ntarangwi.

Ntarangwi further cautioned and warned the VCs to stop this act and threatened to withdraw the already approved courses or decline any further applications.

He said that CUE is, however, ready to work with the associations as was advised by the court. The professional bodies included the Kenya Medical Laboratory Technicians and Technologists Board, Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board, Kenya Pharmacy and Poison Board, Nursing Council of Kenya, Kenya Nutritionists and Dieticians Institute, and Public Health Officers and Technicians Council.

This claim by the CUE comes when the 2020 candidates are in the process of their second revision of courses. The second revision closes today on Monday 5^th July 2021.

So much emphasis in the past has been given to university courses and as we speak there are so many courses. This trend however is changing towards colleges and TVETS in favor of the young minds who are not able to attain the university points. Furthermore, some students just prefer these institutions because of the notion universities do not provide the required skills.

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There have been claims even from the university students that some courses offered are not enough especially in the job market where skills and delivery are the main points. Only someone who can do the job is needed in the various sectors.

Many students still prefer joining the universities though. One of the privileges that a university or a college student will get is government sponsorship which includes government capitation on one hand and a loan from the Higher Education Loans Board.

Students are advised to follow the procedure on the kUCCPS portal to apply for the courses of their choice bearing in mind their cut-off points.