264 needy students from Homa Bay County are set to join Form One through the support of Jomo Kenyatta Foundation (JKF) Elimu Scholarship.
Speaking in Homa Bay town during the award ceremony, the Head of Partnership Coordination at the Ministry of Education Wadera Daniel Odhiambo said that the scholarship targets pupils from vulnerable families, whose parents and guardians were unable to raise fees for their children’s education.
He pointed out that the Education team identified the vulnerable families transparently as they visited their homes.
Identifying himself as one of the beneficiaries from the Save the Children Fund scholarship programme, he affirmed that education empowered him to help other needy students and to ensure equality in his services at the Ministry.
“I would like to advise the students to work hard and excel in their exams, because by scaling up their education, they are going to be empowered and they are going to be employable so that they uplift their families,” he said.
He also urged parents to support their children to curb early pregnancies, drugs and substance abuse and other vices.
Wadera confirmed that the students were unable to report to school early due to missing education materials and delays in supplying them to Homa bay by the suppliers.
The cut-off marks for the scholarship qualification were 250; however, for the marginalized group, it was 240.
One of the beneficiaries, Odere Sheryl Akoth who scored 352 marks expressed her gratitude to JKF, urging the beneficiaries to work hard and aim high as opportunity comes once.
Evans Ogola, a parent to one of the beneficiaries also showed his appreciation for the scholarship.
“We are very much grateful as the parents, secondly I am speechless because personally, I did not know what to do until JKF came to my rescue,” he said, adding that he is glad her daughter got 401 marks and is set to join Butere Girls High School.
The full scholarship covered their upkeep, transport, school fees, and shopping.
By Daisy Marcy and Davis Langat
