Some 50 students in West Pokot County will receive scholarship for their TVET courses to enable them to pursue their studies this year.
The students will be sponsored through a programme by World Vision dubbed Integrated Management of Natural Resources for Resilience in the Arid and Semi-arid Lands (IMARA) in collaboration with Kodich Vocational Training centre which is a Government institution for Technical and Vocational and Education Training (TVET).
While speaking to the press, West Pokot Director of Vocational Education and Training Joel Mulatya said the 50 successful candidates would be contacted to pick their admission letters for Kodich Technical Training College in West Pokot County.
“The World Vision IMARA programme has managed to offer 50 scholarships to needy youths who are 35 years old and below who sat for their KCPE, KCSE and those who dropped out of school due to financial difficulties,” he said.
He said students come from Riwo, Kodich and Suam wards where drought effects is adverse within the region.
Mulatya said the scholarship offered students an opportunity to acquire skills needed for today’s job market and for future employment opportunities. He further said the candidates would report for their studies on July 3, 2022 and for a period of six months, they would be in for their course training.
The Director appealed to students who face financial challenges for their college fees to utilize the students’ loan scheme provided by the government and other well-wishers to enable them continue with their studies without fail.
“Each year, the government puts aside millions of shillings for loans to support students who lack funding for their studies and I appeal to all needy students to utilize the loan schemes provided by the government and other well-wishers for their studies,” Mulatya said.
However, he urged the candidates who receive the scholarship to reciprocate by working hard and be ready to give back to the society.
The Principal for Kodich Youth Training Centre John Makhoka told the press that the institution is ready to receive all the 50 students in early July of this year. Makhoka reiterated that successful candidates needed to work hard and maintain discipline in order for them to achieve academic excellence.
He said the students who have been selected would pursue certificate courses in carpentry and joinery, masonry, tailoring, dressmaking, welding and fabrication, computer studies, hairdressing and beauty therapy for a period of six months.
West Pokot Sub County Assistant County Commissioner (ACC) Benjamin Makau said youth should be encouraged to pursue technical courses for it helps to address the acute shortage of technical skills and unemployment facing them.
ACC Makau urges parents to take their children who complete form four to join Technical and Vocational and Education Training centres established by the government for them to acquire requisite skills that would help them prosper in life.
However, he said the government is committed to ensuring no child is left behind in terms of access to education and thanked the World Vision for their kind gesture in offering the scholarships to the vulnerable youth and for their continued support in other investments programmes in the county and country at large.
By Anthony Melly
