A taskforce report has recommended an upgrade of Eregi Teachers Training College to a constituent campus of Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology.
On Tuesday this week, a taskforce that was appointed by the Kakamega County Governor Fernandez Baraza presented their report to the Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology acting Vice Chancellor prof. Charles Mutai.
The taskforce that recommended these changes was led by the Kakamega Deputy governor Ayub Savula assisted with two secretaries Prof. Kubasu Kwashe and Vivian Ayuma.
This report will be submitted to the University council by Prof. Mutai even as they await approval from the the Council of University Education (CUE).
Upon approval by the commission of University Education (CUE) Eregi Catholic University will be the fifth University in the western region.
This move comes after the Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms recommended consolidation of teacher training colleges into one college.
The education PS on 6th October 2022 sent a directive to principals of TTCs which highlighted that only 8 colleges were allowed to offer teacher training with the rest asked to redistribute their students to Kaimosi TTC.
The deputy governor, Ayub Savula said that the Eregi college has over 70% of the required resources and infrastructure for a University campus.
“The taskforce established that the college has adequate land, classrooms, lecture halls, laboratories, toilets, staff quarters, farm for agricultural training and a first intake capacity of 3,000 students,” he said.
This college was established in 1949 by the mill hill father’s where purposely it was meant to train T4 teachers.
This college came into existence after merging with Mukumu, St. Joseph’s Kitale and Kibabii TTC where it was turned into a government managed college. It sits on a vast land approximately, 52-acres.
Eregi Teachers College to Be Upgraded to a University
In the report, it was indicated that the university if established will reduce the poverty rates in the region since there will be a high demand for better services from those who will attend the university hence leading to growth.
The report further highlighted that the university will offer job opportunities for the locals hence reducing the level of unemployment among the youths.
The deputy governor has further stated that due to the upgrade of the college, has led to the upgrade of Bushiangala-Lusiolo road into bitumen standard and even the water project at Butwehe is also underway.
Therefore, as a result of upgrading the college will improve the lives of the larger population of the area which will also lead to increased demand for goods and services in the region hence boosting businesses in the region.
