Murang’a county government has kicked off issuance of bursaries to learners who are slated to join universities before the end of this year.
The programme targets more than 1,000 students who pursued their studies in day secondary schools and did their KCSE in 2021.
Each of the students is slated to get Sh. 10,000 from the county administration as a boost in payment of the required university fees.
From last week, the county Governor Irungu Kang’ata commenced issuance the bursaries by visiting the day schools which managed to take some of their candidates to universities.
Last week, the governor visited two schools in Gatanga Sub County where he issued bursaries to students from Ithanga and Ndakaini Day secondary schools.
On Wednesday, Kang’ata issued bursary cheques to students who pursued their studies in Gakui Secondary school in Kandara and Karega School in Kigumo Sub County.
One hundred and eight students from school in Kigumo and another 98 from day schools in Kandara have benefited from the programme.
Karega day school in Kigumo Sub County, managed to take 53 students to university in 2021.
The county government has set aside Sh. 10 million to support the programme with Kang’ata promising to increase the amount in the kitty to benefit more learners.
Kang’ata noted that the bursaries are part of the scholarship the county government has been issuing through a programme dubbed Nyota Zetu which initially was supporting needy and bright students enrolled in National and extra-county secondary schools.
He underscored the move saying it will motivate students from day school to work hard and attain needed grades to join universities.
The governor further has promised to establish an internship programme to assist university and college students to gain experience.
The programme will last for one year and will only benefit students from the county where they will be placed in various county departments to learn and get practical skills.
“We are aiming to give university students an attachment for one year so that they can get skills immediately after they graduate. The gained work and professional experience will assist them to search for long lasting employment,” added Kang’ata.
Kang’ata further promised to start another admission scholarship for the top three KCPE Students from every public primary School in the county ahead of their Admission to High School.
The beneficiaries in the programme will get Sh10,000 so as to prepare to join secondary schools.
“There is a need to boost education standards in this county and this will be realized through supporting local students to attain their education goals by providing needed resources,” he averred.
By Bernard Munyao
