Secondary school principals and students from various schools in Coast are among the 350 bronze and silver awardees in the latest prestigious President’s Award programme.
Speaking during the award ceremony held at Oshwal Academy in Mombasa, President’s Award Chief Executive Officer Nelly Munala said the programme equips teens and young adults with skills that influence the way they think and make them better prepared to cope with life’s challenges as anchored in the Competence Based Curriculum (CBC).
Munala confirmed that the programme has at least 122,000 young people from 115,000 registered institutions either in bronze or silver level.
“The participants are investing a lot of hours every week through community service and residential projects to positively contribute towards the development of solutions in communities,” she said.
She reiterated that the programme now shifts focus to removing barriers that hinder the youth from achieving their dreams.
“It’s a voluntary programme, but with partners like TSC and Ministry of Education, the programme is gaining traction countrywide, “she said, adding that at least 500,000 Kenyans have gone through the programme.
Teachers Service Commission (TSC) Coast Regional Director Juliet Kariuki noted that youth require social and economic support owing to the dynamics presented by the social-economic challenges bedeviling our country
“Youth are confronted with high levels of socio-economic challenges making them the most vulnerable population in the society. They require social, political and economic support to realize their full potential and lead dignified lives,”Kariuki said.
Kariuki said the commission was proud of the principals for believing in the Award programme and allowing young people to be part of the programme that has positively impacted the lives of millions of people.
Among the school heads awarded are Shimo la Tewa Borstal head teacher Rashid Burhan, Beatrice Bisingo of St. Johns Girls in Kilifi and Jumane Thithera of Mwamboni secondary school among others.
Individual students awarded were from Agakhan Academy Mombasa, Jaffer Academy of Mombasa, Kenyatta High School from Taita Taveta, Light International Academy Mombasa, Shimo la Tewa Borstal institution, Njoro Secondary School, Mombasa Academy,Shree Swaminarayan, Timbila Mixed and Mwakitau Secondary School among others.
The President’s Award-Kenya (PA-K) was launched by the late former president Mzee Jomo Kenyatta in 1966.
By Hilton Mwabili
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