Day: June 11, 2024

Narok leaders have celebrated the installation of Dr. Vimal Shah as the second Maasai Mara Chancellor for the institution.

Narok North Constituency Member of Parliament Agnes Pareyio said she is optimistic that the incoming chancellor will bring a wealth of knowledge to the institution since he has a rich background of manufacturing and industrialization.

‘He is an accomplished business man, a mentor and has vast knowledge on management skills. I feel he is the best person for this institution,’ she said.

The Maa Council of elders Chairman Kelena Ole Nchoe thanked the president for appointing Dr. Vimar saying his past experience and accomplishment are unmatched.

He thanked President Dr. William Ruto for appointing the chancellor expressing confidence that he would spur the institution to higher heights.

Ole Nchoe called on the society to embrace education by registering at the institution to learn during their free time.

‘This institution is here to benefit us. I encourage everybody whether young or old
to register for certificate, diploma, degree, masters or PhD courses at the university. You can learn during your free time. That is why this institution is here,’ he said.

He reiterated that he will continue supporting education, and especially girl child education, underscoring that education is the gateway to success.

The elder called on the new chancellor to protect the Maasai Mau Forest and Maasai Mara National Reserve as the institution is named after the two natural resources.

East Africa Legislative Assembly (EALA) Member Of Parliament David Sankok said the new chancellor was the best choice for the university as he has a wealth of experience in the business and manufacturing industry.

He called on the chancellor to major on three issues namely areas namely culture of conservation, tourism and agri-business since they are the main factors affecting the community.

On his part, the Maasai Mara University Council Chairman Dr. Kennedy Ole Karei expressed confidence that under the chancellor’s steward
ship, the university will continue to flourish and make meaningful contributions to the society.

Dr. Shah was installed as the second chancellor for Maasai Mara University following his appointment by President Ruto on September 8th, 2023 for five years.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The government has registered 18 colleges as Qualifications Awarding Institutions (QAIs) granting them power to train and award certificates to learners, reports indicate.

The details are captured as part of achievements of the National Education Sector Strategic Plan (NESSP 2018-2022) which was made during the launch of new NESSP 2023-2027 at Kenya School of Government, Kabete in Nairobi by Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu.

In a press statement sent to news rooms, the report adds that during the period 2018-2022, a total of 1,281 Qualifications were registered in the National Qualifications Framework by the Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA).

‘A total of 183 curricula were developed, 28 curriculum support material digitized, 102 trainers trained, 133 learning guides developed, 6,515 candidates assessed in 88 institutions, Learning Management System (LMS) developed, and Trainer of Trainers (ToT) CBET training materials digitized,’ reads the report.

During the launch of the new NESSP
2023-2027 Machogu said: ‘I have no doubt that this Strategic Plan will ensure that we succeed in the delivery of this important education service. For, as they say, ‘if you fail to plan, then you are planning to fail.’ This well-done strategic plan is indeed a clear testimony that we will not fail to deliver robust and solid education programmes to our children and youth.’

According to KNQA Director General (DG) Dr. Alice Kande, the Vision 2030 and the Bottom-up Economy stress on the link between skills and competencies and the labour market to give an opportunity to the marginalized.

‘It is prudent that we create opportunities for the youth to propel our nation to greater development. Aligning educational skills with job market demands not only produces academically qualified graduates but also equips them with practical competence,’ read the statement.

This alignment, the statement added, fosters a responsive education system capable of adapting to the ever-evolving demands of the global economy.

Additi
onally, the Competence-Based Education and Training, underpinned by the Kenya National Qualifications Framework (KNQF), signifies a significant stride towards creating a more relevant, inclusive, and dynamic education system.

‘By embracing these initiatives, we contribute not only to shaping the future of our learners but also to the overall development and prosperity of our nation,’ said the DG in a statement.

The Kenya National Qualifications Authority is established under the KNQF Act Number 22 of 2014, with the mandate to coordinate and harmonize education, training, assessment, and quality assurance for all qualifications awarded in the Country.

Its overarching goal is to enhance quality and international comparability, and promote lifelong learning in addition to defining qualifications, their inter-relationships, and fostering international comparability.

The KNQF framework provides a transparent and structured platform for organizing and recognizing qualifications at various levels, facilitating s
eamless learner progression and recognition both nationally and internationally.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Basic Education PS Belio Kipsang has lauded Baringo County for beating all odds to post impressive quality grades in last year’s Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination with the region sending over 24% of its candidature to the university.

Dr Kipsang said despite the region facing unsurmountable insecurity, flood and drought challenges, the county was able to dispatch more students to institutions of higher learning, a figure that exceeded the national average target of 22 percent.

‘I want to most sincerely thank this county because this is an area that has gone through much of insecurities and that nature sometimes disadvantaged this place, where we lost a quite number of teachers, children because of banditry attacks and some schools to Lake Baringo after the water body burst its banks,’ lauded the PS.

Speaking at Kenya School of Government (KSG), Baringo campus, during the ongoing county dissemination forums on Fourth Medium Term Plan (MTP IV), 2023-2027 period, the Basic Education P
S also lauded the county for managing to send more than 42 percent of the candidates to tertiary institutions thus allowing almost 70 percent of the students to progress to the next level of learning.

‘That in itself speaks so much to the determination as a county has put notwithstanding the numerous problems you faced. I really congratulate you people for your resilience. The county is performing well in relation to neighbouring stable counties,’ noted Dr Kipsang.

On classrooms, the Principal Secretary disclosed that the government through the education ministry is set to construct more than 190 classrooms for junior school in grade nine in Baringo County before the end of this year so that come January no child will miss a class.

The PS stated that by January next year the government will have established 16,000 new classrooms across the country to accommodate grade nine JSS students with 190 of these facilities being done in Baringo.

Governor Cheboi in his address called for establishment of more board
ing schools in Tiaty constituency to boost enrolment and retention of pupils.

He recommended the utilization of equalization funds already availed by the national government to put up the institution facilities to mob up eligible learners who are likely to drop out due to rampant retrogressive cultural practices such as female genital mutilation and forced marriages.

Cheboi added that vocational training centres (VTCs) is a critical sector that the county is focusing its attention as it chunks out graduates with relevant skills and knowledge most required in job creation and export to foreign countries in dire need of them like Germany and South Korea, where the President visited recently to seal a deal on the same.

The half day event presided over by Cooperatives and MSMEs Development CS Simon Chelugui was attended by principal secretaries Peter Tum (Sports), Harry Kimutai (Health) and Professor Julius Bitok (Immigration service).

Others in attendance included county commissioner Stephen Kutwa and a host
of CECs and members of county assembly led by speaker Vincent Kemboi.

Source: Kenya News Agency