Nyamira County Governor Amos Nyaribo has pledged to allocate more funds to Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) and Vocational Training Centres (VTCs) to foster basic and technical education.
He underscored the importance of technical education, noting that it was a key component of enhancing the country’s technological and economic growth.
The governor noted tertiary institutions produce technicians who drive the economy under the supervision of engineers, stressing that the country needs more technicians to drive the economy.
He spoke at Nyamira DEB Primary during the inaugural Education and prize giving Day for schools which performed well in last year’s KCPE and KCSE).
“It is the first time we are celebrating good results. It was due to collective effort by stakeholders. We will be celebrating every year,” Nyaribo said, adding, stakeholders will evaluate results of schools which performed poorly and improve them.
The governor said Nyambaria Boys was among the top nationally in 2022 KCSE and did well in last year’s KCSE despite suspicions, noting that he was proud of it and other schools which performed well.
He appealed to school principals whose schools perform poorly to bench mark with better ones and challenged candidates who performed well in the exams to uphold discipline and integrity.
“If you score Grade A and have no integrity, you are useless. I urge those who never made it to universities to join VTCs and middle level colleges,” Nyaribo said.
The governor said his government is implementing Nyamira County Children Policy 2023 to foster the rights if children and ensure services and resources for children are coordinated.
He said the county has allocated budgets for children, gender, youth, sports, culture, social services, health and education.
Nyarobo, noted the governor has constructed 267 ECDE classrooms across the county in 110 centres fitted with sanitation facilities and 5000 lit water tanks, adding 54 classrooms are being constructed.
‘My scholarship programme through Nyamira County support Fund has supported 750 secondary school bright students from poor families and the first cohort is in form three;
He governor said the county offers bursaries to VTC trainees and partners with other stakeholders to make some tertiary institutions centres of excellence, adding, the county is equipping and staffing the centres to meet the demand for learners.
Nyamira County Commissioner, Erastus Mbui lauded government officers for administering KCPE AND KCSE examination well and ensured it was fair and credible.
In a speech read on his behalf by Stanely Kamande, the Commissioner said the administration was key in upholding the high standard and education system, adding 250 students from the county were awarded government scholarships.
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“In last year’s examination the county attained a mean index of 7.71 in KCPE and 71.1 per cent of students who sat KCSE qualified to join universities,” Mbui said.
Prof Monica Nyamwange, who was a chief guest challenged students to share their challenges to help them excel in national examinations.
She challenged the students to be focused and pursue their dreams to pass their examinations, stressing, those who give up will not realize their dreams.
“Do not suffer silently. If you are not good at some subjects, share your challenges with teachers and fellow students to get a solution,” Nyamwange said.
Nicholus Nyang’au, county Knut Executive Secretary appealed to political leaders to support education initiatives to boost the county’s performance in national examinations.
He told West Mugirango MP, Steve Mogaka who was present and Hyline Mayaka (nominated MP) to ensure their colleagues support the education sector.
“I laud governor Nyaribo for organising the first education day in the county and urge him to employ ECDE teachers on permanent basis,” Nyang’au said.
Jane Njagi, Nyanza region Teachers Service Commission (TSC) Director, Jane Njagi said the county was fairly staffed compared to others and urged TSC officers to balance the staff.
She lauded the county for holding the inaugural Education Day, noting, it gave stakeholders an opportunity to review the performance and chart a way forward, adding, the Commission is committed to staffing schools.
The Director challenged parents and teachers to build the character of youths in line with chapter six of the constitution to ensure they uphold integrity to be celebrated.
“I urge parents to be role models to their children and ensure that they have embraced discipline to make the work of teachers easy,” Njagi said as she appreciated the role teacher play as role models.
She appealed to students to build a firm foundation and shun bad companies which will influence their characters and ruin their lives.
Echoing her sentiments, County Director of Education, Joshua Kaaga lauded stakeholders for supporting schools perform well in KCSE and KCPE.
He urged stakeholders to continue working together to uplift the education standards and performance in national examinations.
Mogaka appealed to the Government to ensure that capitation is released to schools in time to enable school heads operate them smoothly.
He appealed to school heads not to close the schools early due to lack of funds and instead negotiate with suppliers to make supplies to prolong the students’ stay at schools.
“I assure you that members of parliament support education and those who are not here sent their apologies,” Mogaka said.
Echoing his sentiments, Mayaka urged Education Cabinet Secretary, Ezekiel Machogu to give the release of capitation to schools a priority.
She asked the students to embrace discipline, work hard and pursue their dreams to succeed.
By Emmanuel Gwakoi
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