Educational inequality remains a major barrier in the realization of people’s potential within the country. A good education is critical to improving income, employment, and enterprise opportunities.
Despite the fact that primary school education is compulsory and free with secondary Education being further subsided, children from disadvantaged backgrounds continue to miss school due to financial or academic problems.
The transition from primary school to secondary school is difficult for many with a marked overall drop out of about 40 percent.
Kenya has made progress over the past few decades in making higher education more accessible. However, disparities persist in student access to colleges and universities. These disparities limit work and life opportunities for needy students.
“A good education is critical to improving income, employment, and enterprise opportunities. Lack of a good educational foundation leads to disparities which limit work and life opportunities for needy students,” says Co-operative Bank.
Co-operative Bank Foundation has helped thousands of needy students across the country realize and achieve their dreams. Launched in the year 2007, Co-operative Bank Foundation has supported 4,825 students to date.
In 2020, the foundation gave 655 scholarships to pupils who completed their primary education but were unable to pursue secondary education due to financial constraints.
READ: Mshiriki Current Account By Co-operative Bank of Kenya
420 out of the 655 were awarded by the bank’s Regional Delegates’ Forums and the remaining 235 scholarships, were awarded by the 47 County Governments, 5 from each. The scholarship caters to tuition, school uniform, and books.
The foundation offers 28 university scholarships to the top-performing students every year. Other than tuition and accommodation, the students are offered opportunities for internships to work in the bank and for community service.
Education is still the key. There are millions of needy students in Kenya who wish and hope to better their future through education. Unfortunately, many of them have their dreams cut short for lack of support. What Co-op is doing is about empowering future generations.
READ: Ever Heard Of The Youth Account From Co-op Bank?
