By Kamau Njoroge
Zetech University has launched a scholarship fund aimed at aiding needy students to complete their studies.
The university has injected Ksh 8 million to assist the most financially constrained students noting that most talented students have been failing to complete their studies due to lack of fees.
The varsity Vice Chancellor (VC), Prof. Njenga Munene said that the challenging economic environment has affected most students in higher learning institutions noting that out of 9,433 students at Zetech University, 803 of them are on academic leave due to financial hiccups.
“This is a huge number of brilliant minds getting wasted,” Munene said.
He noted that the University is coming up with an elaborate plan to raise more funds towards the kitty including collaborating with well-wishers and other corporates with an aim of reaching out to more beneficiaries.
“We are appealing to individuals and corporates to support the scholarship fund to support these brilliant but needy students. You could also consider adopting one or two of these students,” he said.
At the same time, he called on the government through the Ministry of Education to address the inequalities in the government sponsorship programme noting that students sponsored by the government in private universities are underfunded.
“It’s high time the government addresses the glaring discrimination in government’s capitation of students where students in private university receive less than half capitation received by government sponsored students in public universities,” Munene stated.
According to data analysis, a student in a private institution receives around Ksh 28,000 against Ksh 70,000 given to their colleagues in public universities for the same courses.
Munene called on the Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms (PWPER) to give recommendations that will be fair and ones that will push education in the direction of growth and sustainability.
Deputy Vice Chancellor Prof Alice Njuguna on her part called on the government to intervene in enhancing online teaching and use of e-learning platforms as well as enhancing the Commission for University Education’s Open, Distance and E-Learning (ODEL) platforms.
This way, she said most students will be able to study even in remote areas and thereby cutting the cost of their studies.
“To promote and actualize this model of learning, the government should ensure nation-wide internet connectivity. The national government can partner with county governments in rolling out internet connectivity with free Wi-Fi hotspots in appropriate sites and open public parks,” she said.
