National Bank, Private Schools Launch Sh2 Billion Education Enablement Program.
National Bank of Kenya (NBK) and Kenya Private Schools Association (KPSA) have launched a Sh2 billion education enablement program called “ElimuKonnect” to boost education ecosystems in primary and secondary schools.
ElimuKonnect aims to improve infrastructure development, leadership capacity building, innovation in learning, Energy and Water provision, Digitization and Information Communication Technology (ICT) Infrastructure, and school asset financing.
Dr. Julius Jwan, principal secretary of the State Department for Early Learning and Basic Education, hailed NBK during his remarks at the launch in a Nairobi hotel for forging a credible route for the nation.
He reassured all parties of the government’s backing and urged NBK to interact with the Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KESSHA) and the KPSA team so that they can begin to value the project.
During the launch, NBK Managing Director Peter Kioko remarked that the bank is aware of the difficulties in the education sector and the need to design a program that contributes to Sustainable Development Goal 4 by ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all in Kenya and around the world.
“We are looking forward to supporting the education ecosystem as a financial partner,” said Kioko.
He stated that they are eager to collaborate with all education stakeholders to create solutions and partners to facilitate investments in the highlighted critical areas by providing schools with cheap funding, technical help, and capacity building.
In addition, the chairman of the Kenya Private Schools Association (KPSA), Charles Ochome, stated that they have had difficult discussions due to the large fluctuations in interest rates, and that ElimuKonnect will assist in delivering clean energy, water and sanitation, and solar to their schools.
Through the partnership, we are pleased to have a financial partner that is committed to supporting the education system in ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education. We will work with NBK and other like-minded partners, such as Kodris Africa, to provide affordable financing, technical assistance, technology in schools, and capacity building for opportunistic entrepreneurs.
Moses Wakono, chairman of the UNIFIED Alternative Providers for Basic Education and Training (APBET) Schools Association-Kenya, claimed that registration timelines have been streamlined for APBET schools, and with the cooperation of NBK, registration will be expedited in the future.
Wakono also suggested that additional partners join NBK, noting that ElimuKonnect will support the entire Ministry of Education.
The NBK ElimuKonnect initiative aims to address the issues in enabling the education sector in Kenya through capacity building, financial enablement, technological enhancement, innovation, and excellence in learning, as well as through this and other partnerships under the ElimuKonnect proposal.
Through the partnership, Ochome termed NBK as a partner committed to support the education system in ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education.
“We will work together with NBK and other like-minded partners such as Kodris Africa towards affordable financing, technical assistance, technology in schools and capacity building for our member institutions,” said Ochome.
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