Day: March 5, 2024

The PS in the State Department of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVETS) Dr. Esther Muoria has expressed the government’s commitment to bolstering TVET institutions.

In a speech read on her behalf by the Western Region Director of TVET Joseph Sunguti, Muoria said that TVETS are for innovations that will go a long way in offering solutions to the country’s many concerns like the environment, increase in food production, and creation of energy among others.

She noted that countries that embraced TVETS a long time ago have prospered to the extent that Kenya imports many items from them.

‘We are not giving up and we cannot give up at this level,’ she said, adding that the TVET fair held at Busia was a testimony of forging ahead to achieve the country’s goals in creativity and innovation.

The PS further expressed the government’s commitment to supporting TVET institutions through the provision of funds for essential resources, training materials, facilities, and curriculum activities which res
onates well with the sustainable goals for education.

‘The government through the State Department of TVETS is enabling trainees to access higher education and realise their full potential in the spirit and policy of not leaving anyone behind,’ he said urging all TVET institutions to uphold the principles of competency-based education and training to enable trainees to acquire skills that are aligned with the industries.

Muora at the same time urged the institutions to engage in research and innovation which would enhance the achievement of their programmes in case of the challenges that they have.

The Western Regional Director of TVET Joseph Sunguti said that the region leadership wants to build strong teams that could compete favourably with other regions.

‘We as a Western region have been strong and those standards should not be lowered at all,’ he said.

He encouraged the leadership at college levels to come up with activities that could showcase what individual colleges were doing.

‘We as a Ministry
and State Department for TVETS wish to state that we will continue to support all the activities when they are held at regional level or college level or national level,’ he said.

The forum organized by Bumbe Technical and Training Institution brought together 29 VTTI from the Western Region to participate in skills competitions, and robotics, showcase their exhibits, and present research papers.

The theme of the two-day event is TVET for Sustainable Development: ‘The Role of Science, technology, and Innovation for economic resilience’.

Source: Kenya News Agency

At least 8000 students from Eldama Ravine Constituency secured a Ksh. 73 million worth of bursaries from the constituency’s National Government Constituency Development Fund.

According to area member of parliament Mr. Musa Sirma, this was an increase of ksh. 20 million from the previous year’s ksh. 53 million were offered to 5000 students at the time

‘We have received Ksh 73,651,970 from the national government to disburse bursaries to the needy and vulnerable students in Eldama Ravine Constituency, ‘said Hon. Sirma during the disbursement of cheques in Eldama Ravine town.

Hon.Sirma refuted allegations that bursaries were being issued based on political affiliation.

‘The NGCDF bursaries are given without discrimination based on political affiliation. If that was the case, would the Nyanza region be receiving the funds since H.E William Ruto assumed office?’ posed Sirma.

According to Hon.Sirma, secondary day school students will receive bursaries on the following criteria; vulnerable students, Ksh 5,000,
partial orphans, Ksh 7,000, and total orphans will receive 10,000.

Secondary boarding students will see vulnerable students get Ksh10,000, partial orphans, Ksh 12,000, and total orphans, Ksh 15,000.

According to the MP college students will obtain bursaries on the following criteria; vulnerable students Ksh 12,000, total orphans, Ksh 15,000. Mid-level college students will get bursaries on the following basis; vulnerable students, Ksh 10,000, partial orphans, Ksh 12,000, total orphans, Ksh 15,000.

On the other hand, the university students will receive bursaries on the following criteria; vulnerable students at Ksh 15,000, partial orphans at Ksh 17,000, and total orphans will get, Ksh 20,000.

Koibatek Sub-County NGCDF Chairman, John Mr.Lagat commended H.E William Ruto for pushing for the return of CDF gund which had earlier been quashed by the courts.

He stated that the bursaries have reduced student absenteeism and the number of school dropouts due to school fee support.

‘This event also marks 20 years
of disbursement of CDF bursaries,’ added the chair

The event was graced by the presence of other legislators. They include Hon.Beatrice Elachi (Dagoretti North), Hon.Tandaza Kassim(Matuga), Hon.Reuben Kiborek(Mogotio), Hon. Aduma Owuor (Nyakach) and Hon.Lawi Kipchumba (Lembus Kwen Ward MCA).

Source: Kenya News Agency

Some 358 learners from Kuria in Migori County have received Sh12 million in school fees subsidy programme from World Vision’s Kenya.

The programme dubbed ‘World Vision Kenya Big Dream Programme’ school fee subsidy programme aims to end Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) through education in the Kuria region.

South Nyanza Cluster Manager for World Vision Mr. Shadrack Yator while speaking at Mabera Girls High School in Kuria West Sub County said that 214 of the 358 girls the programme was supporting escaped FGM.

Yator revealed that the organisation will enhance sensitisation and create a friendly environment for girls to empower them educationally to eradicate FGM, teenage pregnancies and early marriages.

‘We want to cushion our girls from the societal evils of FGM and early marriages by giving them hope and refuge in education, so as to have a generation that will act as role models to the future of young girls.

The official said the programme will complement what the national government and county governmen
ts give as a bursary to accommodate more beneficiaries.

Migori Deputy Governor Joseph Mahiri stressed the importance of education in the fight against FGM, early marriage and teenage pregnancies.

Mahiri explained that having a girl-educated generation will end vices like early marriages, teenage pregnancies and FGM that have been rampant in the Kuria region in the recent past.

His sentiments were echoed by Isebania Assistant County Commissioner Lillian Wabala and Kuria West Children’s Officer James Omondi who believe that education is the best means of ending FGM.

‘Let us educate our Kuria girls if they will ever be a voice for the region’, stated Omondi.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The Magarini National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) has launched a disbursement of educational bursaries worth Sh42 million.

Parents, school principals, and student’s expressed relief for area residents struggling with poverty, praising Member of Parliament Harrison Garama Kombe for prioritizing education.

Mr. Kombe, who is the fund’s patron, said Sh18 million benefit 3,000 students studying in schools within Magarini constituency, while the remaining Sh24 million would benefit students studying elsewhere.

He said the bursary kitty within the annual allocation had been increased from Sh25 million to 68 million to cater for the needs of students, most of who had lost hope of getting education.

However, he defended the government from accusations that the funds are not released in time saying the release of the bursaries depended on availability of funds, which come from revenue collection that takes time.

The occasion also saw the launch of the Magarini NG-CDF strategic plan 2023-2027,
which earmarks projects that will in the five years cost at least Sh945 million to fund projects in the education and security sectors within the constituency.

Among the projects to be implemented, according to Mr. Kombe, are the construction of a Kenya Medical Training College campus in Bungale location of Marafa Ward, an agricultural institute in Ramada location of Adu ward, the Magarini Sub County Headquarters in Jais area of Marafa ward as well as the construction of new schools and rehabilitation of existing ones.

Ms Grace Kimitei from the NG-CDF Headquarters lauded the Magarini NG-CDF board for being the 15th out of the country’s 290 constituencies to launch their strategic plan covering the years 2023 to 2027 and urged the rest to follow suit.

She noted that NG-CDF was initiated to complement the work of the National Government and called for the full implementation of the strategic plan in order to help the Kenya Kwanza government to accomplish its agenda for the country.

Magarini Deputy Commissio
ner lauded the NG-CDF board for agreeing to construct the Sub County Headquarters saying the Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) John Thiong’o and his staff have been working in makeshift shelters since the sub county was created almost 20 years ago.

The administrator advised the Legislator to consider constructing the Sub County Headquarters due to the potential dangers of snakes or falling structures. The headquarters will be relocated from Marafa to Jais, providing relief to staff and mwananchi seeking services, according to the source

Locals who talked to journalists thanked Mr. Kombe and the NG-CDF for the bursaries and asked the fund’s national board to increase the allocation and ensure it is disbursed in time.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Over 500 needy students from Murang’a county have benefited from bursaries worth over Sh5 million from the office of the local women representative.

The students drawn from vulnerable and underprivileged backgrounds will have their secondary and tertiary institutions education sponsored.

Speaking at Kimorori grounds, Kenol Tuesday, Murang’a County Women representative Betty Maina observed that her office is committed to ensuring that all students from underprivileged backgrounds have an equal chance to education, which is a right for every Kenyan child.

‘Today 506 students in colleges, tertiary institutions and secondary schools, including those with disabilities receive a total of Sh 5.2 million to cater for their studies,’ she said.

‘Education is the key that will help them unlock all the doors of opportunities available to them,’ she added.

The women representative further implored on the students to work hard in their studies.

‘Do not get into alcohol, drugs and substance abuse as that will derail y
our intention to transform your life and that of your families,’ she implored.

At the same time, Maina called on the Ministry of Education to ensure that the capitation meant for schools gets there on time.

‘We have witnessed the government releases a certain percentage for a school term and withholds the rest,

the next term they release a certain amount for that term without clearing the previous terms capitation grant, which ends up being a burden on the school heads who have to run the schools’ observed Maina.

One of the beneficiaries, Elizabeth Wamuyu applauded the women representative for the initiative noting that her child was able to remain in school despite the harsh economic times

‘My child is in Karugia secondary school and has benefited through the bursaries after I was unable to pay her school fees at Kigumo girls high school,’ she said

She continued ‘I am grateful that she will now be able to go on with her studies and realize her dreams’

Wamuyu underscores the need for the government to
continue supporting the education as most of the men are wasting away in drinking dens as the women do menial jobs for survival.

‘It is the children that suffer, but with such initiatives we have hope that they will be able to pursue their dreams and ambitions,’ she said.

On her part, Rose Mwihaki another beneficiary whose child is living with a disability said, ‘My child has cerebral palsy and had not joined school at the age of 12 because getting the finances to take him to a special school had proved futile.’

But with the bursaries, he has joined a special school, added Mwihaki, while urging parents with special children like her not to shy away from seeking help and enrolling them for learning.

‘Most of the children with special needs remain hidden due to societal stigma and I urge the government to ensure they also access education,’ she pleaded.

Source: Kenya News Agency