The Murang’a County Government has set aside Sh.40 million in the current financial year to provide scholarships for bright but needy students from the County.
This year, 1,000 students have been identified to benefit from the initiative dubbed ‘Nyota Zetu Scholarship Programme’.
The Scholarship is slated to see the beneficiaries pursue their secondary education from Form One to Four and relieve parents the school fees burden.
This year’s beneficiaries will add the number of students under the scholarship programme to 2,000, including those who were selected last year.
Governor Mwangi wa Iria has underscored the need to improve education in the County, saying supporting the bright but needy students will go a long way to ensure the area gets many professionals in future.
Those who applied for scholarship were more than 5,000 students but only 1,000,last year’s KCPE candidates were lucky to be included in the four-year scholarship programme.
The Governor said community leaders, the clergy and the administration of schools where the pupils were schooling helped to identify needy cases which were considered in the programme.
The Programme, Wa Iria said will help the needy to join public boarding schools, as day school education is facilitated by the government in its commitment to fast track education in the country.
“Let it be known that part of the cost at secondary boarding schools is catered by Ministry of Education, with extra paid by Murang’a County Government through the scholarship,” added the Governor.
By end of four years the County Government targets to have educated 4, 000 students through secondary schools.
The beneficiaries in Nyota Zetu programme, he said upon completion of studies will in future support their families as well as assist needy students.
“Through Nyota Zetu Cooperative Society which will soon be established with approval by the County Assembly will ensure the beneficiaries will support the needy in future. The kitty is a loan from the County Government, which will be repaid in kind,” he added
On day secondary schools demanding extra levy from parents, the Governor directed the MCAs to report them to his office for action.
“Am warning heads of day schools who charge the parents unauthorized levy that their days are numbered,” said the Governor.
On tertiary education, he said KCSE candidates who failed to attain university entry grades will be accommodated in polytechnics run by the County for them to acquire technical and artisan skills.
Polytechnics in Murang’a in the last three years have absorbed 30,000 students, who have graduated with various trade courses,” said Wa Iria.
By Bernard Munyao/Joysera Maina
