The Public Service Commission(PSC) is set to lose powers to hire university vice chancellors if recommendations by the Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms(PWPER) are adopted.
Under the PWPER proposals, university councils will take over the power to hire top managers from PSC.
The education reforms team has proposed that the relevant sections of Universities Act be amended to allow councils recruit vice chancellors.
The team recommends that the process will be done by a selection panel which will advertise, shortlist and interview qualified persons.
The taskforce recommends that the process of hiring vice-chancellors begin at least six months before expiry of the tenure of the sitting ones.
The process is recommended to take 14 days.
The selection panel team will select five names, and submit three to the council in the order of merit for the appointment of the VC and deputy vice chancellor, principal of colleges and deputy principals.
The decision to kick out PSC from the process is said to have been informed by stakeholders' claims of poor governance in universities.
They argued this has been an impediment towards effective performance of universities.
In addition, they cited governance of universities and leakages in management, which indicated laps in performances of institutions.
The taskforce proposes that there should be a continuous capacity building of the managers and the councils.
Currently, VCs and DVCs positions are advertised by the PSC which also conducts interviews before presenting three names of the most successful candidates to the university council.
The council then recommends the appointment of a VC, DVC or a principal of a university.
According to the Universities Act, 2012, the appointment is then done by the Cabinet Secretary in charge of Education.
The VC serves for a term of five years with eligibility for reappointment for another one more term based on performance.
The taskforce has also recommended that any person seeking the post of a university chancellor must have a PhD and a distinct career in the public or private sector.
The position will also be filled by the council, not PSC as is the case.
If the report is adopted, the President will appoint the university chancellor within 30days after the council has submitted five names.
