Plans to establish a second Catholic University welcome

EDITORIAL
The Home News has received reports that plans to establish     a second Catholic University in Kenya are underway as two leading Catholic institutions: Tangaza College and the Consolata Institute of Philosophy will merge.
    According to Fr Patrick Roe, the Principal of Tangaza College, the merger between the two institutions will be officially formalised on October 24, 2011.
    At present Tangaza College is a constituent college of the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) while the Consolata Institute of Philosophy is run by the Consolata Missionaries.
   Fr Roe spoke during the official opening of the first semester of Tangaza College this year, where he co-celebrated mass with his counterpart from the Consolata Institute of Philosophy, Fr Luciano Zucchetti. The merger was approved in April 2011 by the Board of Trustees of the two institutions.   
  In a recent phone interview with a Catholic media organisation, the Rector of Consolata Institute of Philosophy, Fr Luciano Zucchetti, described the merger as  ” good  because it is going to fill up a vacuum in education concerning preparation for priesthood.”
   Once the merger is complete, the new institution is expected to seek full university status from the Kenya government, becoming the second Catholic University in Kenya after the Catholic University of East Africa (CUEA).
   According to Fr Roe the proposed ‘Tangaza-Consolata University’ would be a boon for both institutions as many students at Tangaza College went through the Consolata Institute of Philosophy. The university would introduce a number of faculties to serve both the religious congregations and the wider church in Kenya.
   The theology lecturer said, “We are two institutions that have grown side by side.  It is fitting and proper to bring them together”.
    Currently Tangaza College has 1,250 students while Consolata Institute of Philosophy has 300 students.
  We find the plans mentioned above welcome. Kenya has now emerged, not only in Eastern region of Africa, but in the whole continent of Africa, as the hub of quantitative and qualitative higher and advance education.
  Incidentally, in June this year, this paper reported that  there were plans to upgrade Nyandarua Institute of Science and Technology into a university constituent college. This was announced by the institute’s BOG chairman, Prof. Ndirangu Kioni during a graduation ceremony, and his announcement was received with jubilation.
  We are hoping something is being done about it.


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