21-year Isaac Okoth, ‘A’ grade student who failed to join university due to lack of school fees, fears his dream might never become a reality with the introduction of the new funding model.
Okoth was a top student at Kisumu Day school and sat his Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KSCE) in 2021.
He would later secure admission at Kenyatta University to pursue a course in construction management.
However, Okoth, who is thirsty for education did not join the institution as he could not raise his first semester school fees of Ksh.27,750.
To compound this, he spent most of the saving on his guardian who was ailing until he passed on.
“My guardian, who was paying my school fees was ailing. I spent a lot of money to cater for medical bills hence I could not afford to join school. I was told to defer my studies,” Okoth told NTV.
Furthermore, he is worried that the university may kick him out and forfeit his chance if the deferment period lapses before resuming his studies.
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Isaac Okoth who now works at a construction site as a casual laborer, earning Ksh.500 a day in Siaya County, says he is ready to join a Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institute to quench his thirst for education and hope of a better tomorrow.
“I am planning to work until September. If I can get sponsorship to join even TVET institution, that will be better,” he narrated.
Isaac Okoth and his tough journey
According to Isaac Okoth, he lived with his uncle since his pants separated when he was 5 years old.
Since then, his mother reportedly moved to Ugenya with his four siblings and that he has never met his father or heard of him.
“I was told that I was born out of wedlock. I have never had of my father.”
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Moreover, he said that his dream was always to pursue a course in medicine, but he was called for an engineering course.
He remains hopeful that someday he will be able to work at a construction site not as a laborer but as a professional.
According to Isaac Okoth, his desire to pursue his education is still alive. First years are set to join universities and other tertiary institutions after the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) completed the placement process.
