UNESCO emphasizes the vital role of education in addressing poverty, as stated by the United Nations. Education is deemed essential for breaking the cycle of persistent poverty and preventing its perpetuation across generations.
Within the framework of Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Big Four Agenda, education occupies a pivotal position. The President consistently urges relevant ministries to establish robust mechanisms to safeguard Kenya’s scientific ideas, projects, and innovations.
To adapt to the rapidly evolving world marked by significant advancements in science and technology, the Competence-Based Curriculum (CBC) was introduced, aiming to enable students to keep pace with these changes.
Government support extends to funding public institutions that provide tertiary education opportunities, including the incorporation of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programs to equip learners with relevant skills.
Despite these efforts, financial constraints impede several candidates in Kenya from progressing to secondary and tertiary levels. To bridge this gap, various foundations step in by offering scholarships to deserving students, each with specific criteria for full or partial sponsorship.
The top 10 foundations contributing to this cause are:
- The Kengen Foundation: Providing annual academic sponsorship to graduates excelling academically from low-income, rural, or marginalized communities.
- Strathmore University Foundation: Supporting secondary and tertiary students excelling in various areas, with diverse programs covering academic excellence, unique sponsorships, individual support, and bursaries.
- Equity Group Foundation: Offering financial and mentoring assistance to deserving primary and secondary students nationwide, prioritizing financially needy students from various backgrounds.
- USIU Africa Foundation: Providing partial and complete academic sponsorships based on merit, with eligibility criteria for top-performing students and those from underrepresented communities.
- The Jomo Kenyatta Foundation: Dedicated to providing scholarships to orphans and vulnerable students from public primary and secondary schools.
- Ambassadors Girls’ Scholarship Program (AGSP): Offering scholarships to girls in economically disadvantaged areas or facing adversity in Western, Central, and Eastern African countries.
- Canadian Harambee Education Society Scholarships: Focused on improving the quality of life for women and communities in Kenya and Tanzania by providing secondary education scholarships for girls.
- Cooperative Bank Foundation Scholarships: Supporting bright but underprivileged Kenyan children struggling to pay secondary school fees, with specific eligibility requirements.
- Elimu Fund Scholarships: Assisting intelligent Kenyan students with limited financial resources in pursuing and completing secondary education.
- KCB Foundation Scholarships: Annually awarding over 200 secondary school education scholarships to deserving students from low-income families.
Each foundation plays a crucial role in promoting education by addressing financial barriers and empowering students to pursue academic excellence.
