Jane joined one of the private universities to purse a degree program that her parents had encouraged her to pursue from its marketability and hefty salary. But before the end of the first academic year, “it was very clear to me that was not where my heart was,” she says. “I tried to inform my parent of the quagmire I was, but they persisted that I needed to work harder,” she explains.
Some in public universities are lamenting that Joint Admission Board (JAB) robbed them the opportunity to pursue their desired courses. “My aspiration was to undertake a course in Business; my subject cluster met the requirement, compounded with an A score in mathematics,” narrates Judy a student at Moi University, “but the admission letter surprised me –BA in Kiswahili – a course that I never dreamt to select when I was filling the University application forms.” To her she joined the university with the hope of departmental transfer which she come to realize is a pipe dream.
This is the situation which most of our university students are sailing through. Wrestling with parent’s interest and JAB verdict that are almost impossible to alter with the admission based on bed space and facility capacity. “We feel cheated,” argues Thomas a BA student at Nairobi University, “how is the same university able to accommodate numerous module II students with the same facilities and lectures.” For Nixon a student in the same University feels that, “our education is an elitist: marginalizing the poor who have no financial opportunity to secure an alternative option.” He further illustrates that there are some students who were admitted to the same degree course, but from their financial stamina they’re pursuing their desirable courses through parallel program.
One of the Kenyan imminent professors is of the idea that Kenyan University student need to live a reality. “Our universities are struggling with untold forces to meet their mission. The poor rating on the international scale is a testimony, in whichever manner we might try to defend our case. There is a vacuum in research from lack of funding and the mode of teaching that is taking place. Yes, in the other hand we have fluid administration, which more than often kills the morale of our lectures. Tribalism is prevalent in our institutions of learning from secondary via middle level college to university. Compounded with the narrow definition education and poor attitude towards reading to acquire knowledge as opposed to exam oriented syndrome from our student’s catalyses everything to worsen,” the don explains.
The don admits that with misplaced potential in the pursuit of diplomas and degrees it’s an uphill task for Kenya to forge a head and compete at the global village. He challenges the Government policies that are out of touch with a reality. “Our leadership is that of –wait-till-a crisis-is here for the challenge to be solved,” the don dives deeper, “it’s not a new phenomenon that there are some departments that need urgent expansion, but what have we done?”
Another visiting don in one of our university has this challenge to both the lectures and the students: “It’s true that there are some areas that universities in developed country have an edge, but some Kenyan universities seem to be sleeping on some of their obvious potential. This is what is supposed to be identified and capitalized on,” the researcher says. “It is very clear that even in those universities that are regarded to be the best in the world have some areas of study that distinguishes them from the rest,” the scientist explains, “this is what even Kenyan university should strive to – being the best in something, as the aim to be excellent in everything.”
A psychologist cum lecture has a bone to chew with parents that, “they need to guide their children in making informed choices in regard to careers,” she pauses, “parent should forget to relive their career dreams through their children.” She feels challenged that she has met several “educated” parents who have no other reason to force their children to pursue some line of study other than money as the end in it self. “Such parent should compel their children to become Jelimos - athletics offers instant route to become a millionaire,” she humorously challenges them.
“The world operates like a body – in need of various parts and organs,” compares a retired educationalist, “every course has its safe place in the universe,” he asserts. “What our universities need is to be conscious about the dynamics of the job market alongside nurturing the unique talents and ability of every students,” he explains, “our students should turn this uncalled for trend to turn the tables – by using the opportunity they have been accorded as a stepping stone towards their various career destination.” He went a head to give specific examples of people who enrolled in general courses and used them as a conduit: BSC to Engineering, IT, Medicine, and Actuarial Science; BA to law, Commerce, and Communication. He agrees that this might seem to be a long path, but one emerges a broad based professional, well established to tackle a wide range of challenges.
“University students need to master the art of bringing their point home,” says a university counselor, “this is a very important tool even after their studies. I would not be surprised to hear that the same parent who was pushing his or her child to pursue a certain course is directing her or him to take a certain job or marry a certain person.” She challenges university students to carry them selves in a manner that commands respect, thus when they speak their mind out in regard to any issue they are given the expected audience. To her parents tend to be over protective to those children whom they feel that they are immature in decision making, in this process they overstep without their realization.
The ball is in the court of the government and public university administration to ensure that the institutions are not only in a position to absorb qualified students rather meet the aspiration of the student’s career wise. Yes, private universities which tend to be a flexible system for the student’s course transfer - they need to fortify their career and guidance capacity to nurture minds and talents able to measure with the prevailing – dynamic - needs in the job market.
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