Education CS sets up taskforce to review dons’ pay dispute

Education Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed speaks at Jogoo House in Nairobi on April 26, 2018 during the launch of an interministerial taskforce which will review the dispute surrounding lecturers' pay. The university lecturers have been on a month-long strike over a CBA dispute. PHOTO | FRANCIS NDERITU | NATION MEDIA GROUP 

In Summary

• Ms Mohamed said there has been major concerns on the quality of education offered in public universities.
• The taskforce will review successes and challenges of the Module II degree programmes in the development of university education.
• Ms Mohamed said the university sector has experienced teaching and learning disruptions since 1993 due to strikes.

By FAITH NYAMAI
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The Ministry of Education has commissioned an interministerial taskforce to address issues surrounding lectures’ pay.

Education Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed said the committee will review the adequacy of capitation, income generation and institutional revenue and expenditure trends and determine a sustainable counter-offer for the 2017/2021 collective bargaining agreement.

“They will also review and advise on the appropriate institutional and administrative structure for collective bargaining in public universities,” she said.

The CS the committee will further review governance and human resources management policies, practices and staffing in public universities.

Ms Mohamed said there has been major concerns on the quality of education offered in public universities.

She said there is an urgent need to restructure the entire sector to stop the perennial lectures strikes which have been experienced over the last one year.

SECURITY

“The committee has the responsibility to review the general security situation in public universities and advise on the implication for teaching and learning,” said Ms Mohamed.

They will also review student enrolment in the undergraduate and graduate programmes and advise on availability and adequacy of teaching, learning and accommodation facilities.

The committee will also be required to review successes and challenges of the Module II degree programmes in the development of university education.

“The committee has one month in office and will be required to file a preliminary report after two weeks and they will make a final report with findings and recommendations on the way forward,” she said.

Ms Mohamed said the university sector has experienced teaching and learning disruptions since 1993 due to strikes.

“There is a very high probability that most young professionals in Kenya have experienced that disruption in the course of their university education,” she said

Lectures have been on strike for the last 50 days, paralysing education in all public universities.