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{
    "id": 1266553,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1266553/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 153,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Ainabkoi, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Samuel Chepkong’a",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Commission (SRC) says that we do not have any qualification. That is why our salary is pegged at the level at which it is. If every Member had a degree, we would be paid over Ksh1 million like all the other State officers. This is an opportunity for Members to acquire university degrees while working in Parliament. (4) The proposed university will save the Government the high cost of establishing and maintaining many conventional universities, as the university has the potential to absorb large numbers of students at a relatively lower unit cost. As you know, there are students who are visiting the House this afternoon. We welcome them to Parliament. I hope one of them will, at some point, join the Open University of Kenya once we approve its establishment. The proposed university will initially offer eight flagship programmes - six Bachelor’s programmes and two postgraduate programmes: The programmes are: 1. Bachelor of Data Science; 2. Bachelor of Science in Cyber Security and Digital Forensics; 3. Bachelor of Technology Education; 4. Bachelor of Entrepreneurship and Business; 5. Bachelor of Economics and Statistics; 6. Bachelor of Agri-technology and Food Systems; 7. Leadership and Accountability; and 8. Learning Design and Technology. The Leadership and Accountability programme is very good for Members. Many Members are serving their first term. They can register for this postgraduate programme so that they can become better leaders in their constituencies. The physical seat of the proposed university will be at Konza Technopolis, while its virtual presence will be supported on a learning management system with both physical and cloud servers. Currently, the University is being hosted at the National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI) Headquarters on a temporary basis. Admission of the first batch of students is projected to happen by September 2023, once the House approves the Motion. Having engaged the Cabinet Secretary for Education on Thursday, 29th June 2023, in its consideration of the draft Charter, the Committee observed that the Cabinet, at its first Special Meeting held on 27th April 2023, considered and approved the Cabinet Memorandum on Establishment of the Open University of Kenya as required by Section 24 of the Universities Act. The Cabinet also approved the transmittal of the grant of Cabinet approval of establishment of the Open University to Parliament for its consideration and approval. The Committee further observed that the proposed Open University of Kenya will expand access to university education through flexible modes of study and by expanding options and opportunities for training, in-service skills upgrading, capacity building and continuing education. Having examined the draft Charter for the establishment of the Open University of Kenya, the Committee recommends to the House to approve the award of the Charter for establishment of the Open University of Kenya, pursuant to Section 24(1) of the Universities Act (No. 42 of 2012). Hon. Temporary Speaker, with those very many remarks, I request Members present this afternoon to consider this Report and approve it. I beg to move and request Hon. Ruku, a member of the Committee, to second. I thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker."
}