9,000 Secondary Students Receive Elimu Scholarships
Over 9,000 students in the country have received full scholarship support for their secondary school education.
The students will be sponsored by the World Bank, the Kenyan government, and the Equity Group Foundation through the Elimu Scholarship program.
Early Childhood Education and Basic Education PS According to Julius Jwan, the successful candidates are being contacted.
“In fact, some of these candidates have started reporting to schools,” said Jwan.
Through the Elimu scholarships, 119 students from Thika’s informal settlements have received secondary school funding.
According to Equity Bank Senior Manager Sammy Karanu, the foundation received over 600 applications from needy households but was unable to accommodate the large number.
According to Karanu, the comprehensive scheme will cover fees, books, shopping, pocket money, and uniforms for four years.
He claims that, unlike the Wings To Fly sponsorship, which only selects students with grades of 350 or higher, the Elimu scholarship targets students with grades as low as 280.
“We have a community selection advisory committee chaired by Deputy County Commissioners. We look for the neediest cases, sometimes these students end up scoring high marks in KCSE,“ he said.
Maurice Sifuna, Thika Director of Education, urged the scholars to maintain their hard work and discipline in order to achieve academic excellence.
Sifuna expressed his hope that all beneficiaries will graduate with university grades at the end of their secondary school education.
He also urged parents to provide a conducive learning environment for their children during school vacations and to ensure that they maintain their academic performance.
Mbogo Mathioya, Deputy County Commissioner for Thika West, stated that the students were chosen from informal settlements in Gachagini, Kilimambogo, and Kiandutu.
He claimed that poverty had prevented parents from providing their children with the best education possible.
He claims that many students drop out at the lower levels due to a lack of fees.
He went on to say that his board had a difficult time finding the most deserving children to support because the majority of them were in need.
“It was a tough call for us. We had to be fair enough not to favour any of the 600 applicants to ensure only the most deserving 139 cases qualified,” he said.
Mathioya stated that the government was committed to ensuring a seamless transition from primary to secondary school.
Another 20 Gatanga scholars benefited from the scholarship as well.
The scholars received their award letters at a recent ceremony in Thika town.
Amina Salim, a beneficiary from Mukunike in Kilimambogo, said her dream of becoming a doctor has begun.
“I come from a poor family. Sometimes we go without food. I was looking for a job as a house help since my parents couldn’t afford fees. I have young siblings in school, but now there is hope”, she said.
Thirteen needy students were among 156 who received the scholarship in Kiambaa sub-county.
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According to Equity Bank Ruaka Branch Manager Alice Wambui, in addition to the 9,000 students from low-income families who have benefited from the program thus far, another 1,000 have benefited from the Wings To Fly program, bringing the countywide total to 10,000.
To date, the Elimu scholarship and Wings To Fly programs have assisted over 49,000 students mostly orphans, vulnerable children, students with special needs or disabilities, and students with poor parents living with HIV/AIDS or chronic diseases.
9,000 Secondary Students Receive Elimu Scholarships
