Learning As Usual: Uhuru gives back license to Presbyterian University

It’s a sign of relief for the Presbyterian University after President Uhuru Kenyatta today announced the reinstatement of the letter of interim authority to the Presbyterian University of East Africa

Speaking at the Church service at PCEA St. Andrew’s Church in Nairobi, the President said that Government was satisfied with the progress made by the university to meet the required standards for the reinstatement of the letter of interim authority.

President Kenyatta handed over a copy of the letter to the institution and urged leadership of the University to continue implementing all the recommendations made by the government. He added that, by doing so the university would become a centre of knowledge, science, innovation and research as was intended by its founders.

“Your commitment to establish the Presbyterian University of East Africa as a top notch institution of higher learning is a reflective of your enduring spirit, action to progress the training of our people. The Government of Kenya is cognizant of these efforts and commends you,” said President Kenyatta.

The reinstation comes after Dr. Fred Matiang’i, while acting as Cabinet Secretary for Education revoked the operation license of Presbyterian University of East Africa that was awarded to the university in 2007. Dr Matiang’i directed the Commission for University Education (CUE) to start the process of winding up the University in line with the provisions of the Universities Act and Universities regulations.

According to a report by CUE, the university had unpaid arrears on salaries and allowances amounting to Sh611 million.

“The university had defaulted on remittance of staff salaries, deduction to financial institutions, leading to some staff members being listed at credit reference bureau,” reads the report.

The report also said that at the School of Education, one academic leader did not have requisite qualifications in the field of education and most of the staff records did not have copies of academic certificates.

The President also asked  religious leaders to be at the forefront championing true values of the society saying that church leaders should not remain silent when things in the society are not going right.

“I expect you to single out the wrong things and speak against them. As spiritual leaders you have the mandate to call any individual who might be doing wrong to order. You should not be afraid to speak and correct people,” President Kenyatta said.

He also talked about the national examinations and the leakage menace saying that parents who want their children to score highly are the main cause of exam cheating.

“Can a class 8 child get Kshs 100,000 to pay for an exam? Isn’t it the parents who give them that money?” Kenyatta asked.

“Let us allow our children to develop, let us not encourage them to take shortcuts to get degrees that end up being meaningless because the child was not properly prepared and all that you have done is to buy exams,” he added.

The President said children who may not be able to make it to universities can be absorbed into technical colleges where they are able to be trained and their gifts and talents sharpened to enable them contribute positively to the nation building.

Nairobi Senator Sakaja Johnson also attended the Church service where he praised the President for being a exemplary leader who has steered the country on the path of national unity and economic prosperity

“It is said leaders think of the next generation and politicians think of the next election, you have demonstrated that you are a true leader,” said Sakaja.

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