Uasin Gishu Deputy Governor Daniel Chemno has asked the Ministry of Education to come up with a policy that will bar universities, both public and private, from offering diploma and certificate courses.
Chemno says diplomas and certificates are best offered at Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) institutions.
Speaking during the 10th graduation of the Rift Valley Technical Training Institute (RVTTI), the Deputy Governor pointed out while university diplomas take 2 years, those offered by TVET institutions are usually a minimum of 3 years.
“It is not the core mandate of universities to offer diplomas and certificates. Let that role remain with TVTETs who has always trained better,” noted Chemno.

He also expressed the need for a uniform period of time that a student must be in school to be awarded a diploma.
And with the increasing number of students now going for technical courses, Chemno asked the National Government to continue supporting TVETs and the students.
The DG also called for the setting up of a Higher National Diploma or Advanced Diploma to support students who complete diplomas.
On her part, the Principal Secretary State Department of Vocational and Technical Training Dr. Margaret Mwakima said the government is committed to continuing with the initiative of making technical training more accessible.
She noted that there has been an increase in students’ enrolment in TVET institutions within the last 5 years from a mere 55,945 in 2013 to the current 249,316.

To ensure there are sufficient trainers to correspond with the huge number of students, PS Mwakima said the government is in the process of recruiting 3,000 additional trainers – 1,000 diploma holders and 2,000-degree holders.
“This will help improve TVET education especially now that there is a growing demand for competency training across the country,” said the VTT PS.
“The government recognizes TVET as a pathway to education and this is why we are allowing graduates with diplomas and certificates to proceed with their studies up to masters,” she added.