A total of 410 learners in various Secondary Schools and Technical Vocational Training Colleges (TVETS) in Migori County have received educational finance assistance amounting to over Sh14 million from the county bursary funds.
The funds issued by Migori Governor Ochillo Ayacko will ensure that the learners, selected during the previous regime of Okoth Obado, continue with their studies undisturbed.
Speaking at Migori County stadium during the signing off of the funds, Ayacko acknowledged that despite education being a national government function, his administration was happy to chip in and ease off the financial burden on parents.
“We acknowledge that education is a national government function. The county government however understands the difficulty parents go through to pay school fees,” the governor said.
“We are offering 410 continuing students a chance to carry on with their education. The money that will be released today will aid the academic prowess of our children.” he noted.
The governor disclosed that students will receive a total of Sh35, 000 each from the released funds to cater for tuition in their respective institutions.
The Governor also emphasized that the county government is committed to ensuring continued support in the education sector, while promising a similar amount of money in a three-week period to support new students.
“In the next three weeks, my administration will be disbursing a similar amount to support new students. In one month, we will have disbursed Sh29 million to facilitate payment of school fees to needy students,” he added.
The governor stressed the need for parents to raise their children in an upright manner and not to expose the children to misleading and radical teachings.
Ayacko referred to the Shakahola massacre as one of the toxic religious upbringings that parents should watch out for.
“As we do our part in aiding the academic prowess of the children, I would urge the parents to ensure that they bring up the children in an upright manner. Let us not promote cultic behaviours in our children,” he said.
Speaking to the press after the meeting, Kanyawanga high school principal Mr Jacob Mbogo acknowledged the County government’s efforts in promoting education.
Mbogo decried that the delay in the national government’s disbursement of education funds was causing financial mayhem in schools.
“On behalf of the school principals, we would like to thank the county government for launching this noble program. This comes as a relief to our schools which have faced financial uncertainties for some time now.”
The event was also attended by Migori County Commissioner David Gitonga, who said that by putting funds into technical institutions, more skills will be available as opposed to taking more students to universities.
Gitonga reminded parents to apply for government education loans and grants from available government entities like women representative offices.
“With the support from the National Government Affirmative Fund (NGAAF), ward bursaries, Constituency Bursary and now county government funds, our children will be able to learn at ease,” he said.
The county commissioner urged the residents to keep high standards of hygiene in their places of working and abode, warning of a cholera outbreak in the neighbouring Homa Bay County and other regions in the country.
“We want the people of Migori, especially those ones operating in the Soko Mjinga market to relocate to the new market so that we can improve it and protect ourselves from the contracting opportunistic ailments associated with poor hygiene,” he said.
By Polycarp Ochieng and Michael Obuoyo
