To make quality education accessible to all, Heritage Christian College University (HCCU), has launched a Scholarship Endowment Fund to cater for needy, physically challenged, but brilliant students, with the aim of becoming innovative individuals in the country. The main objective of the fund was to provide financial assistance to less privileged students and those from underserved families and communities and to attract and retain high-calibre academic and administrative staff. The University targets to invest GHc20,000,000 as a pre-start to invest in currently continuing brilliant and innovative students. At the lunch, invited dignitaries and participants donated almost half of the targeted amount. Dr Victor Boadu, Chairman of the Scholarship Committee, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, said scrapping fees had become a challenge for the smooth running of the University due to the rapid increase of needy but brilliant students, hence, there was a need to create a scholarship fund to serve as an investment for students and the future. 'The fund was to promote academic excellence, morality and service through teaching and research with a Christian worldview,' he said. He called on all churches, non-state bodies, and non-governmental organisations to support investment in students through this scholarship endowment fund. 'Investing in a student's education is an investment for the society and country for economic growth', he added. He suggested that stakeholders, who wish to support can adopt students and pay their tuition for their four years stay on campus, 'this would impact students, families and society in general.' However, the University has bursary scholarships as well as sponsorship options for departmental and full scholarships. Professor Williams Atuilik, Vice President, and Provost of HCCU said hardship should not be a handicap for people who are endowed with talent and skills to progress, therefore, the need for the fund was important. He said the University sought to educate ent repreneurial ethical leaders but sometimes students are faced with financial challenges, hence, through this endowment fund, less privileged students would be supported. He said the University would reach out to other institutions like churches, hospitals, agencies, individuals, corporate bodies, and private sectors to be able to reach the target as a starting point for the scholarship to be enrolled. He encouraged students to learn hard to be enrolled on the scholarship fund for quality education. 'The University teaches professionalism, and Christian moral values to nurture students' behaviour in a Godly manner,' he added. Dignitaries present at the launch commended the leadership of the University for the efforts of championing quality education in the country and called on all to endeavour to support the endowment fund to enable more students to benefit and access quality education. Source: Ghana News Agency Eldoret: In a significant move to boost technical skills among the Kenyan youth, the government, through the Ministry of Education, has pledged to make Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) more accessible and affordable. This initiative aims to transform trainees into skilled professionals and future employers rather than job seekers.
According to Kenya News Agency, the ministry initiated the Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET) program in September. This program is designed to align trainee skills with industry demands. A notable aspect of this initiative is the Dual Training approach, where trainees spend 70% of their time gaining hands-on experience in the industry and the remaining 30% in classroom learning.
The announcement was made during the 18th Graduation Ceremony at The Eldoret National Polytechnic, where Machogu celebrated the graduation of 2,692 students. He commended the institution for enrolling 2,886 trainees in 103 CBET courses and offering over 30 qualifications developed internally.
Machogu reaffirmed the government's commitment to the New Funding Model (NFM), enhancing the accessibility and affordability of TVET for Kenyan youth. He criticized the previous funding model, Differentiated Unit Cost, for its lack of sustainability and inequity, noting the new approach will prioritize funding for students from financially challenged backgrounds.
The Government will continue supporting Kenyan youths aspiring to join public TVET institutions. Machogu stressed the importance of TVET institutions diversifying their revenue streams to enhance their financial stability.
The TVET sector is a focus area for the current administration, with reforms aimed at improving efficiency, quality, and relevance. Continuous industry engagement is crucial to bridging the gap between educational training and industry demands.
Machogu highlighted the role of TVET graduates in driving the Kenyan economy, noting their prevalence in various sectors. The Ministry of Education, through the TVET Authority (TVETA), ensures that training meets high standards and remains competitive.
Recognizing the importance of practical skills, the Ministry has deployed 1,300 TVET trainers nationwide, with plans to recruit 2,000 more. This effort is coupled with re-tooling current trainers to deliver effective CBET.
The Government is also investing in modern equipment and infrastructure development in TVET institutions to enhance training quality. Construction of new TVET institutions is underway, aiming to increase their total number to 238.
Machogu encouraged graduates to use their skills and opportunities to address societal challenges and contribute to the nation's economic development.