A total of 128 bright but needy students who sat for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) but were unable to join various institutions of higher learning due to lack of school fees have all reasons to smile after Nyanza Community Youth Empowerment Programme came in handy to assist them pursue their education dreams.
Speaking at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Sports Ground Kisumu, the Programme’s Director Veterlis Okoth said their journey with the students began by keenly identifying them from the vast communities across Nyanza region.
“Under this programme, we focus on students who sat for their KCSE and are still at home due to issues of school fees. We register, place these students through KUCCPS and ensure that they’re facilitated through HELB loans, and scholarships,” Okoth said.
He further noted that they have partnered with various government institutions that are ready to support such students based on their situation and backgrounds.
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Students pursuing different courses recruited in the September cohort, have been placed to Bumbe National Polytechnic and Rarieda Vocational Training College.
Similarly, institutions such as Eldoret, Sigalagala, Seme and Bondo Institute will admit others , bringing the total number of beneficiaries to 128.
“The partnered institutions have been very supportive as the parents are barely left with the obligation of paying only Sh10,000 per student for the first term and Sh5,000 for the second term. The rest will be taken care of by the programme until the students are done with their education throughout the session,” Okoth added .
“We are currently focusing on industry- aligned programmes that will enable them to receive enough practical skills from the industrial attachments. The dual programme ensures students are in college and industry at 50 percent of the time respectively,” he said.
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Mr Oduor remarked that for quite a long time the programme has churned our several graduates, thus a game changer in the community and society at large.
Lydia Akoth, a beneficiary from Homa Bay County who will be pursuing civil engineering at Bumbe National Polytechnics said that she had lost hopes in education but the programme has come to the rescue.
Her counterpart Joseph Obwire (Automotive Engineering) affirmed that the programme has empowered him as he is about to complete his course.
By Fredrick Odiero
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