It was a sigh of relief to parents and guardians of learners from needy and vulnerable households in Trans Nzoia County whose 128 children, beneficiaries of the Elimu Scholarship Programme, are now proceeding to Form One.
Area County Commissioner (CC) Mr. Samson Ojwang presided over the official flag-off ceremony of the 2021 Elimu Scholarship beneficiaries for the county at Kitale Museum on Tuesday. He accompanied by Equity Bank Kitale Branch Manager Mr. Michael Chege.
Addressing the ceremony, Chege revealed a total of 248 graduates of 2021 KCPE in the county had applied to be considered for the Elimu scholarship.
“However after a thorough vetting process spearheaded by the Community Scholarship Advisory Committee (SCAC), a total of 128 applicants merited for the scholarship,” disclosed Chege, adding all the beneficiaries were vulnerable children from extremely financially constrained backgrounds.
“For affirmative action, students who are orphans and from vulnerable communities and those with special needs and disabilities and attained below 280 marks also benefited,” revealed Chege.
The bank manager stated the beneficiaries, who were drawn from all the five sub counties, were set to report to their various secondary schools between yesterday (Tuesday) and Thursday.
“We are happy to note that some of the beneficiaries are heading straight to their various schools from here,” he remarked as he urged the students to remain focused and work hard in order to achieve quality grades at the end of the four year secondary education.
“The quality grades will enable you to enroll for quality professional courses at the University, which will enable you to get engaged in well-paying employment activities that will in the end uplift living standards of your parents, guardians and siblings,” the banker advised.
He, however, appealed to parents and guardians to fully participate in the education of their children.
Besides taking care of four year secondary school tuition and other academic fees requirements, the scholarship also caters for basic and important personal effects for the beneficiaries.
Speaking during the launch, CC Ojwang hailed the Elimu Scholarship Programme, saying it will heavily buttress the government’s efforts in the fight against illiteracy as well as ensuring hundred per cent transitions as directed by the Ministry of Education.
“We sincerely thank Equity Bank for working closely with the national government to ensure successful implementation of the Elimu Scholarship Programme,” noted Ojwang.
The county administrator disclosed the programme had allocated a total of Sh.9 billion this year towards funding education for vulnerable children who attained 280 marks and above in 2021 KCPE.
Interviewed by KNA parents and students expressed joy with the students promising to work extremely hard in their academic journey.
The scholarship programme is supported by the World Bank-funded Secondary Education Quality Improvement Project (SEQIP) and implemented by Equity Bank.
The Government, through the Ministry of Education appointed Equity Group as the implementing agency of the inaugural Elimu Scholarship, due to the success of the group’s Wings to Fly Programme.
By Maurice Aluda
