Universities will stop offering certificate or diploma courses if a bill amending the Universities Act of 2012 passes into law.
The Universities (Amendment) (No. 5) Bill 2023, which is currently in its second reading in the National Assembly, proposes limiting these courses to Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions. Proponents believe this shift will boost enrollment in technical colleges.
“The principal object of this Bill is to amend the Universities Act, 2012, to end the practice of universities offering certificate and diploma courses. This is informed by the fact that currently there are two bodies certifying certificate and diploma courses, that is, the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority for technical and vocational colleges and the Commission for University Education for the universities. This leads to inconsistencies in the content and duration of the courses,” as stated in the Memorandum of Objects and Reasons.
The bill emphasizes that universities are primarily centers for higher learning and academic research. Therefore, these institutions should concentrate on degree and postgraduate programs rather than certificate and diploma courses.
According to the proposed amendment, technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions continue to report low enrollment, despite significant government investment. The bill says that limiting universities to higher-level programs will help these technical colleges attract more students.
Additionally, Clause 2 of the bill proposes amending Section 5 of the Act. This change would shift the role of the Commission for University Education (CUE) to focus on recognizing and equating postgraduate certificates and diplomas from foreign institutions, rather than basic certificates and diplomas.
Clause 4 proposes amending Section 20 of the Act to allow universities to offer postgraduate certificates and diplomas while officially banning basic certificate and diploma courses.
Additionally, the clause includes a “saving provision” that allows students currently enrolled in these programs to finish their studies without interruption.
Clause 5 of the Bill seeks to amend Section 38, restricting university chancellors to awarding only postgraduate certificates and diplomas. They would no longer have the power to confer basic certificates or diplomas.
The amendment bill has sparked mixed reactions. Some lawmakers argue that because universities already possess the necessary infrastructure and staff, the government should allow them to continue offering these courses.
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