Dons: Foreign travel ban violates rights of lecturers
Universities Academic Staff Union (Uasu) Secretary General Constantine Wasonga (brown jacket) with fellow union members gestures during a media briefing at the University of Nairobi Grounds on January 18, 2017. Uasu has asked the government to lift the foreign travel restriction for lecturers. PHOTO | FRANCIS NDERITU | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Those seeking clearance have to wait for long and some are being denied clearance to travel outside the country for international conferences, workshops and external examinations at universities outside Kenya, said Dr George Omondi, Uasu University of Nairobi chapter secretary.
- Dr Omondi added that the ban is not only discriminatory but also violates the constitutional rights of the lecturers.
- The government has also banned other civil servants from travelling outside the country.
University lecturers have demanded the immediate withdrawal of the travel restriction recently imposed by the government.
The Universities Academic Staff Union (Uasu) said the move had adversely affected many members, who are frustrated by delays in processing requests.
“Those seeking clearance have to wait for long and some are being denied clearance to travel outside the country for international conferences, workshops and external examinations at universities outside Kenya,” said Dr George Omondi, Uasu University of Nairobi chapter secretary.
Dr Omondi added that the ban is not only discriminatory but also violates the constitutional rights of the lecturers.
AFFECT NEGATIVELY
“The impact of this unlawful travel restriction continues to affect the country negatively. Uasu will vigorously fight this unlawful travel restriction until it is withdrawn,” he said.
A letter from Mrs A. Mworia, senior deputy secretary in the Education ministry, dated September 20 and addressed to all vice-chancellors and principals of their constituent colleges, says: “This is to notify you that it has been decided, until further advised otherwise, that no government official will travel outside the country.”
The government has also banned other civil servants from travelling outside the country.
At the same time, Presbyterian University of East Africa acting VC John Mungania said his institution would work closely with the Commission for University Education (CUE) to ensure it offers quality education.
QUALITY EDUCATION
“We do observe that we are partners in offering education in Kenya and that we are all partners in the economic development of this country by offering quality education as pointed out in previous CUE inspection reports,” said Prof Mungania. He made the remarks recently during the inspection of the university by the regulator.
“We are operating within the rules, regulations and guidelines of CUE and the laws of Kenya. This position is demonstrated by the fact that the Kenya employability survey indicates that our graduates are among the 10 preferred graduates in the labour market,” he said.
The acting VC said the university is listed among the institutions that offer employment opportunities to many Kenyans.
He reiterated his commitment and that of the university to move with CUE progressively towards the attainment of a charter.
The inspection report is set to be released soon.
