Taita, Taveta, KENYA: Scholars in the county have raised alarm over the dwindling number of youths from Taita Taveta county joining universities and other tertiary institutions within and outside the county.
Speaking during the sensitization program on educational loans in Taveta sub-county, the County Executive Member for Education and Libraries in the county Daniel Makoko said that only three percent of students from the county have joined universities within the county while only one percent have joined outside the county.
According to Makoko, lack of money has been the core reason for the vice and therefore urged students who aspire to continue with their studies to take advantage of the loans being offered by the county through the Higher Education Loans Board as the county has set aside 37.5M for the financial year 2018/2019 for loans meant for education.
His sentiments were echoed by the HELB representative Claude Mwaikwasi who said that only 700 students from the county have applied for loans out of the total 304,000 Countrywide.
At the same time, Taita Taveta Education Loans Board chair David Mombo urged parents to take advantage of the scholarships being offered by the county to needy students in each ward who have scored 300 marks and above.
He, however, warned that the board will terminate sponsorship to students who fail to excel.
Currently, the county is collaborating with HELB, Kenya University and College Placement Service (KUCCPS)and Technical Vocational Education to conduct a four-day sensitization program on education loans in all four sub-counties.
