Governor Jackson Mandago at a past meeting. He has said his government will help improve educations standards. [Photo/Star]
Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago intends to give a lifeline to students who scored grade D- and below in last year’s KCSE exams.
The governor has said his government will help the over 39,000 students to join different institutions to learn life skills such as carpentry and plumbing.
He has also set up an education forum that will look into assisting students who scored Es in the exams.
"The county will hire the skilled youths for construction projects in the region that will be undertaken by the county and national governments," said Mandago as quoted by the Star.
“We are about to start construction of more than 2,000 housing units in Eldoret under a national government plan. We will need skilled youths ... this is why we must prepare them,” he added.
He also waded into the debate of having the results audited, saying the mass failure cannot be explained.
"Many students have been locked out of institutions of higher learning. We cannot [watch] as thousands of children suffer. Their future will be ruined,” he added when he spoke in Turbo.
He further promised to help all the students who qualified for university, underlining the importance of education in county development.
“I assure our youth that 2018 is their time for progress. We will also give loans at five percent interest rates to youth groups that start businesses."