Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs Salim Mvurya says the national government has made deliberate efforts to invest in the education sector as a poverty eradication mechanism.
CS Mvurya says the government is committed to repositioning and revitalizing the entire education sector for rapid socio-economic development of the nation.
Mvurya who was speaking in Kinango constituency of Kwale at the inauguration ceremony of two classrooms and a laboratory and handing over a new school bus at Salim Mvurya secondary school says that education is fundamental to development and growth.
The CS announced that the school also received a Sh5 million donation from President Dr. William Ruto.
He called on the residents to embrace education and recognize it as the best way to end ignorance, poverty and diseases.
Mvurya who served as a two term Kwale Governor from 2013 to 2022 noted that the national government would continue supporting the development of secondary school infrastructure in Kwale in order to accommodate more learners transitioning from primary to secondary level of education.
The newly established classrooms and science laboratory were built with funds from the local Kinango National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG CDF) kitty.
The CS reiterated that the government would invest in public primary and secondary schools across the country to provide all children with access to quality basic education.
He said it was only through investing in education that the country could realise development, growth and progress for the benefit of the population.
The CS who was accompanied by Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani and Kinango MP Gonzi Rai also called for constructive collaboration from educational stakeholders to help reduce the number of out-of-school children in the county.
He asked parents to take their children to school as per the 100 percent transition policy from primary to secondary level of education championed by the national government.
Mvurya urged the youths to embrace education to enable them have a big chance to make a difference in their lives, families and that of the society.
He said the country has now fully adopted the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) at all educational levels and assured that the government would continue to strive in guaranteeing the country’s education system remains relevant and globally competitive.
Mvurya expressed deep appreciation and commended the outstanding developmental achievements witnessed under the leadership of the long serving MP Rai.
Rai said he was determined to establish more primary and secondary schools in the rural parts of the constituency to end the challenge of young children trekking for several kilometers in search of basic education.
The legislator said the school infrastructure expansion by the local CDF kitty was an effort to curb school dropout and increase transition rate from primary to secondary schools.
On her part, Governor Achani stated that the devolved government was focused on boosting the education sector in the region to become the model that other counties would emulate.
Achani also noted that the devolved unit has increased the county’s annual ‘Elimu Ni Sasa’ bursary scheme from Sh400 million to Sh500 million to benefit more university and secondary school students.
The coastal county boss reaffirmed her commitment to providing the highest quality education for every child in Kwale so as to contribute meaningfully to the growth of the county and country.
CS Mvurya also officially opened Muzuri Primary School in Mwereni Ward, Lunga Lunga sub county constructed and funded by Saidia Kwale Foundation.
Saidia Kwale Foundation is currently undertaking projects on a number of sectors including education, Health, Agriculture and Water.
Governor Achani assured the investor of her administration’s support in the implementation of the socio economic projects undertaken by the Saidia Kwale Foundation.
The event was also graced by Lunga Lunga MP Mangale Chiforomodo, Kwale County Commissioner Stephen Orinde and the founder of Saidia Kwale Foundation Hendrick Stengenganga, a Dutch national.
CS Mvurya also handed over a new school bus to Lunga Lunga Secondary School bought by the local NG CDF kitty.
The ceremony also coincided with the unveiling of the NG-CDF Lunga Lunga Constituency five-year Strategic Plan 2023-2027.
By Hussein Abdullahi
