Government and Policy

Government Converts The Following Diplomas Into University Degrees

BY Getrude Mathayo · October 31, 2022 02:10 pm

The Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) has received a certificate of registration and accreditation from the national government following a successful evaluation and subsequent endorsement as a Qualification Awarding Institution (QAI).

According to the government, the Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA) has designated KMTC’s Higher National Diploma as an equivalent of a University Degree.

This pronouncement puts the institution’s Higher Diploma Qualifications in the KNQA level 7 which makes them equivalent to the Bachelor’s degree, Certified Public Accountant (CPA) III, Certified Public Secretary (CPS), or Master Craft Person I.

Kenya National Qualifications Authority Acting Council Chair CPA Rosemary Njogu lauded the College for the integral role it continues to play in Kenya’s health sector, saying, “We acknowledge and appreciate the impact that KMTC has had in safeguarding the health of millions of Kenyans and beyond our border.”

“Keeping in mind that the College’s courses are designed to build critical medical skills while incorporating the effective use of modern technology, the accreditation as a QAI will bear significance in Kenya’s medical field and the African Health Sector by extension.” CPA Rosemary Njogu.

KMTC Board Chairperson Ambassador Zachary Muburi-Muita, on his mind he held that “the decision to register qualifications and learners with KNQA builds confidence in our programs and has, therefore, opened new opportunities to attract as well as enroll more foreign students while positioning KMTC as the premiere Middle-Level Medical Training College in Kenya and beyond.”

KMTC Board Chairperson’s speech was delivered by the Board Director and Chair of the Academics, Standards and Ethics Committee Dr. Naomi Mutea who noted that graduates are linked to training and career opportunities globally since their qualifications are aligned and verifiable to potential employers as well as higher education institutions.

The Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA) designation of KMTC’s Higher Diploma into a University Degree drew mixed reactions from Kenyans with some leaders calling on the body to designate more certifications into degrees.

“I’m in agreement about the accreditation and acknowledgment of KMTC’s Higher National Diploma as a degree equivalent. The next one should be the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication (KIMC). The quality of graduates from both schools is incredibly great,” former Cabinet Administrative Secretary David Osiany wrote on Twitter.

At the same time, over 40 KMTC qualifications have been registered onto the Kenya National Qualifications Framework (KNQF) portal while a team of technocrats is currently working towards ensuring the remaining qualifications are registered before the end of the year.

KMTC Chief Executive Officer Dr. Kelly Oluoch who welcomed the accreditation noted that “this provides an assurance that our programs are recognized worldwide and in return, their comparability with qualifications of institutions of higher learning enhances the employability of our graduates.”