The government is in the process of upgrading the Kenya Education Management Institute (KEMI) by giving it a charter to offer undergraduate, postgraduate and doctorate courses. Education Cabinet Secretary (CS) Ezekiel Machogu confirmed that the Kenya kwanza government through the ministry of education was in the process of opening six undergraduate and a few diploma programs at the facility to enable students pursue studies at the comfort of their homes. ‘Latest June this year, President Dr. William Ruto will award a charter to KEMI so that they will have a Vice Chancellor and professors who will be teaching online,’ said Machogu. The CS who graced the 7th KEMI graduation ceremony Tuesday at Jamhuri high school said that since its inception in 1981 and subsequent upgrade to a state cooperation, accepting training and research consultancy, the institution has played a critical role in continuous upscaling of education stakeholders, thereby filling the gap of human resource capacity. Machogu encouraged the graduands to uphold national values and ethics and implement skills as well as knowledge that they have acquired from the institution. In addition, he stated that they were in the process of providing transport services to the county directors of education and their deputies, where each of them will receive a new vehicle this year to enable them carry out the necessary monitoring and supervisory roles. ‘I would also like to urge teachers to follow the ministry directives by ensuring that there is no corporal punishment to students,’ said Machogu. The CS at the same time encouraged principals and head teachers to make sure water and food in their respective schools is properly inspected to ensure they were fit for human consumption. On his part, KEMI Chief Executive Officer Dr. Maurice Odondo said from the year 2011 to date, the institution has engaged in capacity building and improvement of managerial and competence skills of institutional managers through a diploma programme. He stated that the programme is offered through open distance and flexible learning at county levels, supported with online mode of training, noting that since then they have equipped over 40,000 school leaders with diploma awards. The CEO stated that they are working in collaboration with like-minded institutions in order to tap into synergy. He said that together with the Aga khan university they are working on a programme that targets head teachers. KEMI council chair Dr. Mercy Karogo thanked the government for funding the institution and supporting their programmes.
Source: Kenya News Agency