The Ministry of Education has rolled out a door-to-door campaign to mop up over 600 students yet to report to Form 1 in the Nyanza region.
Nyanza Regional Director of Education Nelson Sifuna said the multi-agency campaign being carried out across the region targets achieving a 100 per cent transition to Form-one by the end of this week.
So far, he said 96 per cent of the students who sat for the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) in the region last year have reported.
Parents who are unable to take their children to school due to lack of fees, he said, have been directed to take them to the nearest Day secondary school so that they can start learning.
“If there is any child out there yet to join Form One, please take them to the nearest Day school. They will be admitted free of charge with their primary school uniform as arrangements are made to purchase new uniforms,” he said.
Speaking at Kisumu Girls High School, Sifuna said the campaign on Thursday netted 156 students who had given up on joining Form One due to lack of school fees.
The students were taken to various schools in the region, with the exercise expected to round up more learners, especially in the informal settlements.
Among the students rounded up during the exercise was Joylene Akoth, who scored 377 marks and was selected to join Sigoti Girls High School in Nyakach Sub-County, Kisumu.
According to the girl, her mother was hospitalised, and the father did not have money to pay for her shopping and school fees.
The girl was admitted at Kisumu Girls High School, where the Principal Eva Akeyo, promised to look for sponsors to fund her education.
“We have decided to absorb her, and we are going to use this as a case study on how to fundraise for needy, bright students,” she said.
By Chris Mahandara
