Growing trend
Barasa, the Principal at Kibabii Diploma Teachers Training College, spoke at Meru Teachers Training College when principals met to fine tune preparations for this year’s ball games to be held in April.
The principals complained that their institutions were also grappling with poor facilities due to under funding.“This sector has been grossly underfunded because in terms of development the colleges receive very little. Most of the old colleges have remained the same with no new infrastructure,” the association’s chair said.
Meanwhile, the tutors protested a growing trend where various universities are taking over mid-level colleges, saying it could kill host institutions.
They said Mosoriot, Kaimosi, Kibabii, Bondo and Garissa teachers’ colleges were currently struggling to restore facilities at a time student population had declined.
Barasa said universities were keen on taking over already set up facilities, thus disadvantaging the colleges.
“Universities taking over middle level colleges, especially teachers training colleges is something we do not support,” he said. Barasa said it was wrong for the Education Ministry to favour some institutions and discriminating against mid-level colleges.
Seeking funds
He said most institutions had now resorted to seeking funds from local NG-CDF to buy land to set up new facilities. Barasa said many universities were being offered land but opted to go for the already existing structures at the expense of current institutions.
“When they decide to take over, they take everything. Starting afresh for the colleges is very difficult and we propose that let universities take care of themselves by putting up their facilities.
“The biggest challenge is infrastructure because you have nowhere to take the students because some universities have moved in and taken over facilities, leaving students stranded,” said Barasa.
