Every opening of a new school term in the country often poses a challenging moment for parents and guardians owing to the financial implication it comes with.
From purchase of school utilities like books, uniforms to the elephant in the room- school fees which in some instances is categorized as lunch programmes especially for primary and day secondary schools.
This burden has not only been felt by parents and guardians but also the schools in equal measure, a reality occasioned by delay of the capitation funds to schools.
As such, school bursaries given in millions and shared amongst all the needy and vulnerable students come as a relief to majority of the beneficiaries putting into consideration the harsh economic times being experienced.
While some of the leaders want the funds issued as bursaries consolidated into one fund and make education free for all at all levels, parents are urging the government to increase the amount in allocations and to ensure that capitation gets to schools timely so as not to affect the quality of education.
KNA joined two Members of the County assembly as they traversed their wards in Kangema Constituency issuing the 2.5m in bursaries as received from the county government of Murang’a to ensure that all the needy and vulnerable students got a share.
At Kiawambogo Secondary school in Rwathia Ward, the eerie silence in the school is a testament that learning is going on undisturbed save for a few students dashing out to answer the call of nature.
At the school’s dining hall, a handful of parent’s representatives eagerly listening to the area MCA Kamau Kagori.
“We want to ensure that all our children in day secondary schools do not waste time going home for school fees as this will affect the quality of education,” he said adding that,
“I urge you as parents and the community to embrace our day schools because a student in a day school with determination can also excel just like their counterparts in boarding schools”
The MCA urged the government to add the amount set aside for education so that all students can benefit and have an equal chance to education which is a game changer.
The school’s principal Mr Henry Kahura lauded the programme revealing that the school had received Sh.300, 000 which would offset the balances for the needy students in the school.
“it will go a long way in maintaining the bright needy students in school for better performance,”he added
He appealed to the government to ensure capitation gets to school in time as lack therefore demotivates the non-teaching staff because students only pay for the lunch programme while the government purchases tuition materials while the school takes care of other necessities.
“The delay often occasions a shortage of tuition materials for the school and this greatly impacts on the performance “he added
At the neighbouring Kanyenyaini ward, we find the area MCA Grace Nduta (City) issuing bursaries to the parents as she urges them to encourage and support their children to seriously pursue education as the only game changer in life.
She notes that the economic times being experienced are particularly being felt in the villages because even affording a daily meal for a family is hard.
“I urge the government to add on this money or to make education totally free where the parents will only be required to provide food and school necessities “she said
This, she says will equalize all the students whether from rich or vulnerable backgrounds as all will have an equal chance to education and quality school time.
On their part, the beneficiary parents lauded the program while urging the government to add more allocation.
‘We want our children to remain in school to prevent them from being sent home for school money as that also poses a risk to the children as they are forced to walk back home and may meet calamities along the way,”
“Consider adding that amount because life is becoming unbearable due to the hard times yet we want our children to access quality education” noted Macharia Kanyuari, one of the parents
Mary Muthoni noted that NG-CDF has been instrumental in supporting education and that the government needs to set up proper guidelines for capitation disbursement.
“Let the government prioritize the education sector for the sake our children’s future”.
By Florence Kinyua
