BY ZALIMON BASIGHALHA (GOOD LUCK)
Kasese has been listed among the 51 Local Governments across the country that will benefit from the Education Full Bursaries funded by the Forum for Women Educationalists (FAWE) in partnership with MasterCard Foundation.
The revelation was made today morning by Martha Akello from FAWE while addressing an inception meeting that also involved an official launch of MasterCard Foundation Phase II Program at the district headquarters in Rukooki.
The meeting was attended by officials from the District Education Department, Civil Society Organizations and RDC’s office.
Akello explained that Phase II of the Program which aims at supporting academically talented young women and men from underrepresented communities to access higher education and successfully transition (change) to the world of work would be implemented in 51 districts, Kasese inclusive.
According to her, the intended beneficiaries are those who sat for the Uganda Certificate of Examination (UCE) and Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) between 2020 and 2023.
The program which will run from 2024 – 2030 is expected to support and empower 1,800 underrepresented young people comprising 80% females and only 20% males aged between 15 and 25 especially people living with disabilities and refugees among others.
She categorically put it clear that the suitable applicants would undergo training in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) in some renowned Uganda Technical Colleges, Health training institutions, Agriculture colleges and best Universities in Uganda at a zero cost.
Akello further explained that they were also implementing High Education Access Certificate (HEAC) Program as the only pathway that provides entry opportunities for candidates who didn’t obtain appropriate qualifications at the UACE level.
In his remarks, the Kasese District Education Officer, Mr. Ernest Bwambale Thabugha, applauded FAWE and MasterCard Foundation for selecting Kasese to be among the beneficiary districts.
He used the same platform to call upon the students who fit in the mentioned categories to apply for the full sponsored bursaries.
Ms Justine Muhindo Mutabazi, the Kasese Assistant RDC attached to Kasese Municipality, hailed the Government of Uganda for allowing the Civil Society Organizations operate freely in the country, adding that they contribute to the socio-economic transformation of the citizenry.
ENDS