There is need to harmonize the issuance of education bursary among various agencies bestowed with the responsibility for enhanced transparency and efficiency.
The Saku MP, Col.(Rtd) Dido Rasso pointed out that there were many organizations within and outside government with bursary kitty allocations serving in same jurisdictions hence the need to synchronize the lists of beneficiaries to avoid duplication.
Officiating at the disbursement of bursaries to needy students in secondary schools, colleges and universities from the constituency worth Sh.36 million on Sunday, Col.Rasso said the kitty was raised from last financial year’s Sh. 27 million allocation in support of the 100 per cent transition to secondary school presidential directive.
The legislator called for coordination of bursary funds being handled by different entities like the Presidential Secondary Schools Bursary (PSSB) that is administered by the state department of children services, scholarships by various banks, county governments’ bursary schemes and non-governmental organizations.
“This will not only ensure that there is accountability but will avoid duplication and abuse of the kitties hence ensuring that no needy case is left out” said Col. Rasso during the function held at Moi Girls Secondary School.
The MP underlined the importance of education and urged parents to enroll their children to school irrespective of their financial strength as the bursary from the government and other stakeholders would cater for the required school levies.
He pressed for involvement of residents at village level through public participation in identifying needy cases and urged local residents to take advantage of peace prevailing in the county to undertake development initiatives for improved standards of living.
The MP who was accompanied by MCAs from the constituency, the CDF Chairman, Bonaya Guyo and local education officials announced plans by the CDF office to fund expansion of classrooms in secondary schools to enable the institutions to accommodate the increased number of students occasioned by the 100 per cent transition drive.
Col. Rasso said some schools were handling up to 160 students in one class adding that there was urgent need to provide the required infrastructure.
He also called on the teachers service commission (TSC) to work out plans of hiring more teachers in the wake of the soaring number of students.
By Sebastian Miriti
