Nurses who obtain a higher diploma from the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) will now receive equal and higher salaries compared to their nursing degree counterparts. This is due to the recent elevation of the higher diploma from KMTC to the same level as a Bachelor’s degree by the Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA).
In light of this change, the KNQA has begun discussions with the Public Service Commission to increase the salaries of higher diploma nurses from KMTC to match those of nurses who hold nursing degrees.
According to Dr. Juma Mukhwana, the Director-General and Chief Executive of the KNQA, the framework presented to the PSC shows that if an individual has an ordinary diploma and completes a two-year higher diploma program, they will receive a Level 7 qualification, equivalent to a degree.
The higher national diploma qualifications from KMTC now fall under KNQA Level 7, making them equivalent to a bachelor’s degree, Certified Public Accountant (CPA) III, Certified Public Secretary (CPS), or Master Craft Person I.
To be eligible for the new status, KMTC graduates must ensure that their higher diploma meets specific conditions, such as being in the same field as their ordinary diploma and having a duration of two years or more.
In summary, nurses with higher diplomas from KMTC will now receive comparable salaries to those with nursing degrees, following the elevation of the higher diploma to the same level as a Bachelor’s degree by the KNQA. The KNQA is working with the PSC to implement this change, and certain conditions must be met for a higher diploma to qualify for the new status.
