Many middle level colleges offering journalism training and media studies face closure in a new crackdown by the Media Council of Kenya.
The industry regularor majority of colleges do not abide by the approved syllabus from the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development. It is an offence for an institution to offer training without the approval and accreditation of the council.
MCK Deputy Chief Executive Officer Victor Bwire warned today that certificates from colleges using their own guidelines will be invalid. “Students and parents must demand to know if a college is accredited by the council and if it is offering the required curriculum. Certificates and diplomas from such colleges will not be honoured,” he said.
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The curriculum, which has been under scrutiny since last year, was examined and approved by the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority and the Commission for Higher Education on Thursday.
“In addition to traditional course units, the curriculum provides for industry-specific driven courses and lays emphasis on specialisation for trainees. It comes with specific tailored courses teaching modules that seek to fill the gaps in the industry,” Mr Bwire said in a statement.
Colleges will be required to use the curriculum in courses, and examinations will be handled in collaborating with the Kenya National Examinations Council. The media regulator has also set up an industry-led committee for the inspection and accreditation of colleges.
“The teams will go around the country to ensure training institutions have complied with the set standards and have requisite personnel and equipment,” the deputy CEO said. The Media Council Act 2013 empowers the council to regulate standards of journalism training in the county. However, this should be achieved in consultation with other relevant institutions.
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