Director of Secondary Education, Paul Kibet and Senior Deputy Director in charge of Curriculum and Research Services at KICD Jacqueline Onyango have today presided the handing over of scholarships worth Sh11.1 million to 100 needy students by NCBA bank to its partners.
The bank led by Group Chairman James Ndegwa, Group Managing Director John Gachora and six other partners, said it had enlisted over 100 students under its NCBA Youth Education and Enterprise Citizenship pillar.
Kibet reiterated the government’s continued collaboration with the private sector and other stakeholders to invest in education to ensure that all children across the country have access to quality education and the opportunity to realise their full potential.
“Money flows to where there is need hence the transition necessitated funding. Kenya’s education sector has experienced rapid improvement through a series of ambitious reforms aimed at enhancing the quality of education. These reforms include the introduction of the competency-based curriculum (CBC), teacher professional development, textbook policies, and improved management practices at the local level,” said Kibet.
Kibet lauded the initiative stating that it goes beyond individual beneficiary as he called for more funding support especially at the secondary level even as the ministry strives to actualise 100 percent transition process.
Onyango revealed that KICD will support the new curriculum since it provides an opportunity for learners to learn a lot in the curriculum.
“We call for more partnerships and airing of such like initiatives and programmes for more to onboard as we hope to be part of the system,” Onyango stated.
Chairman James Ndegwa reaffirmed that through education, children are empowered to make changes in their communities and overcome poverty as he insisted on the partners’ efforts to open gates for some of the best performing learners’ education path.
“The mentorship programme is just as important as support…. Achieving gender equality in and through education is at the heart of the human rights agenda, and the key to achieving the transformational 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It requires developing equitable institutions that generate policies, budgets and plans that enable all to succeed… NCBA has enrolled over 300 students on scholarship programme so far,” Ndegwa said.
Gachora reaffirmed that the lenders had partnered to sponsor over 100 new learners from across the country for the next four years with statistics showing that over 1.8 million children are out of school and involved in practices such as child labour to supplement family income in the country.
“Education is not about giving or rather it is about investing…. It’s our duty to invest in the future…. We have identified the 6 partners to walk together as we are looking behind the one child and families,” Gachora confirmed.