Underage learners allowed access to education loans
By Oliver Musembi, September 1, 2023The Cabinet has directed the Ministry of Education to fast-track access to scholarships for all eligible students.
During a Cabinet meeting presided over by President William Ruto at the Kakamega State Lodge on Tuesday, the Cabinet waived the requirement for national identity cards for students who have not attained the age of 18.
The session marked the administration’s second Cabinet meeting held outside the nation’s capital.
During the meeting, the Cabinet was updated on the 2023/24 placement cycle for higher institutions of learning students and the rollout of the new funding model.
To further enhance access to higher education through a balanced institutional framework, the Cabinet approved the upgrading of 13 technical and vocational colleges to national polytechnic status.
The action by Cabinet is pursuant to the principles set out in Sessional Paper No. 1 of 2005: A Framework for Education, Training and Research, which establishes a pathway for upward mobility of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) graduates.
National polytechnics
The policy framework also requires the establishment of at least one National Polytechnic in each County, and a TVET institution in each constituency.
As a first step towards realizing this shared national aspiration, Maasai Technical Training Institute, Kiambu Institute of Science and Technology, Rift Valley Institute of Science and Technology and Coast Institute of Technology have been elevated to national polytechnic status.
Others who have been elevated to national polytechnic are Tseikuru Technical and Training College, Sang’alo Institute of Science and Technology, Bureti Technical Vocational College, Jeremiah Nyagah Technical Training Institute, Mawego Technical Training Institute and Baringo Technical Training Institute
“The convening of this meeting, as part of His Excellency’s ongoing working tour of the Western region, underscores the administration’s steadfast commitment to lead an open, accessible, and accountable government in keeping with our national values and principles of governance.
“The meeting took stock of the programs and projects that the administration is implementing within the Western Kenya region and throughout the Republic,” the Office of the President says in a statement.
Food security
The meeting was also briefed on the progress being made in the implementation of the reforms sanctioned by Cabinet on the turnaround of the country’s sugar sub-sector, which is the backbone of the Western Kenya region’s economy.
In leading the nation towards food security, the meeting welcomed the continued reduction in the cost of food. The relief in the household spend on food was attributed to crop maturity and harvests in the South Rift, Nyanza, Central, Eastern and Coast regions.
Building on the progress, the Cabinet authorised the acquisition of mobile dryers to aid in the post-harvest management of this year’s bumper harvest.
To further enhance prices of agricultural produce, the Cabinet also sanctioned the expedited implementation of the Warehouse Receipting System.
Cereals and counties
Additionally, and in keeping with the imperative to realize Food Security, the Cabinet authorized the operationalization of the new Strategic Food Reserve Regulations, 2023.
Under the framework, the government will purchase at least one million bags of maize to be maintained as part of the Strategic Food Reserve.
The off-take price for the year 2023 crop will be announced in due course by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, in consultation with all stakeholders as outlined in the Regulations.
As the country approaches the onset of the short rains, and in an effort to realize higher yields, the Cabinet approved the framework for enhanced production and distribution of certified seeds.
The meeting also approved the partnership between the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) and County Governments for “Last Mile” distribution of subsidized government fertilizer that is retailing at Sh2,500.