By James
Wakahiu
The fraternity of St. Patrick Special School
in Thika of Kiambu County has appealed to Mount Kenya University to be sending
its students to the school to teach, counsel, guide and boost the morale of the
special learners in the institution.
This passionate call was made by the school
principal Mr. James Macharia when students and staff from MKU led by the VC, Prof.
Deogratius Jaganyi visited the school during the international day of the
persons living with disabilities(Persons abled differently) .
Pupils of Thika’s St. Patrick Special School celebrate after receiving a dummy cheque of Ksh. 30,000 from MKU VC. Prof. Deogratius Jaganyi (in the picture). MKU made a donation of cash and other items to the school in celebrating the international day of people living with disabilities. Photo/James Wakahiu.
The Principal said they were experiencing a
lot of challenges including an acute shortage of teaching staff. He said MKU
students would be of great help to the school.
The MKU community through the VC gave the
school a cheque of KSh. 30,000 and other donations including cash from students
abled differently.
ENG. Josphat Muthumbi, Past Lion District Governor 2020-2021 District 411 A Kenya – Ethiopia – Seychelles. Photo/ James Wakahiu
Reacting to the appeal made by the school, MKU
VC. Prof. Deogratius Jaganyi said his University would support the institution.
He said MKU would intensify their new partnership with the school as well as
Lions Club International who are the main sponsors of the school. He said the
support being accorded to the special school was within the University mandate
of promoting United Nations Academic Impact SDG10 – Reduced Inequalities Hub.
The VC, said in the last two years MKU has
received close to 100 students abled differently from the Kenya Universities
and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS)and this has opened a new
chapter of new partnership with various stakeholders.
MKU VC Prof. Deogratius Jaganyi, addressing students during the occasion.
Photo/ James Wakahiu
He said his Varsity has appointed Dr. Sera
Kimaru to spearhead the coordination of students from the University and non
students from the community who are abled differently.
He said one of the organizations partnering
with MKU to help people who are abled differently, Kilimambogo Blind Trust
Association (KBTA) has signed an MoU with MKU for a joint support to the 24
students with vision challenges. KBTA has introduced the Orbit Reader 20 to
replace the analog brailes. Orbit Reader 20 is a computer with brailes
provision.
St. Patrick Special School, Thika, Principal Mr. James Macharia acknowledging the donations.Photo/ James Wakahiu
Prof. Jaganyi said there was a need for a
Tripartite memorandum of understanding between MKU, St. Patrick Special
School and the Lion Club through which the trio will engage in
community outreach as MKU continues to unlock infinite possibilities in education
and research. Among those in attendance were MKU Principal, Corporate Services,
Prof. Peter Wanderi and top Thika – Kilimambogo Lions Club Branch.
School fraternity at St Patrick School. Photo/ James wakahiu
” The above
activity jointly organized by MKU Foundation in collaboration with the
coordinator of the persons abled differently at MKU is one of the many
activities that MKU is organizing in the course of three years( June 2020 – May
2024) as the United Nations Academic impact SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities Hub,” said the MKU Vice Chancellor Prof Jaganyi
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