Education CS Ezekiel Machogu on Monday, January 9 began a consultative process in readiness for the establishment of the National Open University.
Machogu shared this news at a meeting with those invested in higher education at his Jogoo House office in Nairobi.
He disclosed, “Globally, governments have implemented Open Learning,” which lowers the cost of education for everyone, regardless of where they live or their family’s financial situation.
In October of 2022, President William Ruto of Kenya ordered a study of the country’s educational system and instructed the Education Review Team to propose guidelines for making Kenya’s open university a reality.
The Presidential order stipulated that the review panel make recommendations on how to make the National Open University of Kenya work, as well as how to structure Open, Distance, and E-line education (ODEL).
The university plans to attract Kenyans who are unable to enroll in a degree program full-time because of work or family obligations.
One of the pledges Ruto made on the campaign trail that helped propel him to victory on August 9 was the creation of a virtual learning university.
When he took office in June, President Ruto promised that the Kenya Kwanza Education Charter, which he signed in June, would be fully implemented within his first 100 days.
As part of our commitment to expanding access to higher education, we pledge to establish the university that will do so within the first 100 days of our administration.
One presidential candidate for Kenya Kwanza said at the time, “As Kenya Kwanza, we believe that we can offer a course that is virtual, accessible, and that will give people a chance to people even who are not at a student going age in the most effective way.”
Ruto was the minister for higher education during the administration of former president Mwai Kibaki in 2010, however the idea for the university goes back to that year.
As minister, Ruto advocated changing the Universities Act of 2012 to permit the transfer of university administration.
A number of legislative, policy, and budgetary initiatives were implemented, as well as hiring from the public service, to alleviate the financial strain on public universities.
Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i made similar recommendations when working in the education docket during the government of former President Uhuru Kenyatta, but he was transferred out of the ministry before he could see them through to fruition.
