Economy

Regulator approves setting up of three public varsities

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CUE chairman Chacha Nyaigoti Chacha. file photo | nmg

Higher education regulator has approved the setting up of three public universities in an exercise that will see Mosoriot Teachers College converted into a campus.

Commission for University Education (CUE) chairman Chacha Nyaigoti Chacha said they have authorised the setting up of Mama Ngina University College to be mentored by Kenyatta University, Bomet University College under Moi University and Koitalel Samoei University College under the University of Nairobi.

Prof Chacha said the commission inspected the new colleges and submitted to mother universities a report on what needs to be improved in the institutions.

“Mentoring universities are working with managements of proposed colleges to ensure that issues of staff recruitment, facilities and lecturers are addressed,” said the chairman.

Mosoriot Teachers College which has existed since 1960 will now not admit trainee teachers  as it will be a campus  of Koitalel Samoei University College.

It will join Siriba Teachers college (now Maseno University), Kenya Science Teachers College (now a campus of University of Nairobi) among others, which have been upgraded from teachers training colleges to universities.

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A report by the CUE recommended the transfer of land and facilities of Mosoriot TTC to the University of Nairobi so that it is held in trust and provide requisite range of facilities, especially lecture rooms, administration and academic offices.

Koitalel Samoei University College is being constructed at the cost of Sh3.4 billion.

The number of universities have doubled from 35 in 2012 to 70 last year and the number of students enrolled in universities have increased from over 361,379 in 2012 to over 564,507 last year.