At least 52,000 needy students in secondary schools and Vocational Training Centres in Kisii are set to benefit from a Sh245 million County Bursary Fund for the year 2024.
The Bursary kitty has been increased from Sh145 million to Sh245 million and each of the 45 electoral wards has been allocated an average of 5 million shillings.
Speaking during the distribution of the bursary cheques at Gusii Stadium in Kisii town, Kisii Governor Simba Arati said that despite the late distribution of the bursary which was occasioned by delays in the approval of the County Budget, the students will receive their cheques in time for the schools’ second term.
“Our quest to support needy students is out of the need to finance their education which is a worthy equaliser that enables all to scale the socio-economic, political and leadership ladder,” noted Arati.
The Governor pointed out that this year’s bursary fund had factored in vulnerable students from Vocational Training Centres who were not previous beneficiaries of the fund.
In order to ensure the exercise was transparent, Arati said that he had led the distribution of the bursary forms in all the wards and ensured his team drafted individual cheques to the beneficiaries.
The County Boss urged the benefiting students to work diligently and post impressive academic performance so that the county can realise value for money spent on the bursary programme.
In addition, Arati said the county had absorbed all the ECDE teachers under permanent terms and the ECDE centres will receive a face lift to help boost performance in the education sector.
“We are gearing to revamp out Vocational Training Centres and our plan to have our training colleges mentored by centres of excellence in technical training is well on course,” he concluded.
By Mercy Osongo
