PRESIDENT Mwai Kibaki has challenged local universities to expand their admission capacities to enable the Government save Sh 20 billion the country loses annually on university study abroad.

Kibaki asked the universities to diversify programmes and expand admission through open and distant learning. He was speaking at the launch of the Kenya Methodist University’s (KEMU) charter in Meru yesterday.

He said the Commission for Higher Education that directs university education had eliminated lengthy and bureaucratic procedures for evaluating higher education and processing admission to university status. The president said the commission will be accorded the power to regulate all institutions offering diploma and technical studies and asked universities to focus on programmes that impart competitive skills for employment.

Kibaki said the Government was striving to create employment and asked tertiary institutions to produce graduates that fit market requirements.

The president said the Government had set aside Sh65 million for research at universities and other institutions in response to a question by KEMU’s vice chancellor Prof Mutuma Mugambi. Kibaki said this budget will be raised to Sh 71 million next year.

Present were acting Education minister Noah Wekesa and his Internal Security counterpart John Michuki and Education assistant ministers Kilemi Mwiria and Beth Mugo. Others were Petkey Miriti (Trade) and Raphael Muriungi (Tourism), and former cabinet ministers David Mwiraria and Kiraitu Murungi.

source: http://www.timesnews.co.ke