NAIROBI, Kenya, April 13 – The I&M Foundation has signed a Sh6.25 million partnership with Moringa School to allow students in the informal settlement to acquire software skills.
Moringa Schools Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Snehar Shah said the program targets those between 18 and 35 years old, with a third being female.
“The role of education and skills development in promoting innovation is critical for a Digital Revolution. However, this remains out of reach for many of the youth living in Kenya due to a lack of opportunities,” Shah said.
“We are pleased to enter this partnership with I&M Foundation to further empower a generation of students who are passionate about technology and create opportunities for growth and development,” he added.
According to the Kenya Ministry of Education, about 80 percent of high school graduates in Kenya do not qualify for university, forcing many youths into unemployment.
Further, the traditional education system is not addressing the scale and nature of opportunities that exist within the technology sector.
I&M Foundation Trustee and Group Executive Director, I&M Group PLC, Sarit Raja Shah, projects software jobs to increase by over 25 percent globally.
“The Access Program offered by Moringa School lays a rich foundation, combining practical projects with relevant technologies and up-to-date course content. We look forward to a successful program that enables and equips students to find employment in the Digital space,” said Shah.
Latest data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) shows that the number of unemployed Kenyans increased by 2.9 percent to 2.97 million as of the end of 2022, up from 2.89 million reported in the third quarter of 2022.
More than half of the unemployed are youth aged between 20 and 29 years.
