A total of 127 needy but bright learners from Murang’a County have received a major boost after being awarded the Elimu Scholarship, enabling them to join Grade 10 in various senior schools.
The beneficiaries, who include 60 boys and 67 girls, were selected from more than 4,000 applicants who applied for the highly competitive scholarship.
The programme targets learners from vulnerable backgrounds who have performed well academically but face the risk of dropping out of school due to lack of school fees.
Flagging off the beneficiaries Friday, Murang’a County Director of Education Phillip Wambua stated that the Elimu Scholarship will fully cater for the students’ education costs.
He added that the programme will cover full school fees, personal items such as uniforms and learning materials, as well as transport fare to their respective schools of admission.
Speaking during the event held at Murang’a Technology primary school, Wambua said, “This support is expected to ease the burden on parents and guardians, many of whom struggle to make ends meet.”
He confirmed that the selection process of the 127 beneficiaries was thorough, fair and transparent.
The Director said the large number of applicants showed the high demand for the scholarship and the financial challenges facing many families.
“We received more than 4,000 applications, which shows the magnitude of bright learners in need of support. From this number, 127 students were selected after a very rigorous and transparent process,” Wambua said.
He explained that the selection involved various education stakeholders to ensure fairness and accountability.
“These included education officers, teachers, community leaders, the clergy and government administration officers,” He remarked.
According to Wambua, the aim was to ensure that only the most deserving learners benefited from the programme.
To further verify the applicants’ level of need, sub-county committees were formed and tasked with visiting the homes of the shortlisted learners.
“These committees physically visited the homes of the applicants to confirm their backgrounds and establish whether they truly deserved the scholarship.
This was done to avoid cases where undeserving candidates benefit at the expense of the needy,” he added.
The Director urged the beneficiaries to take the opportunity seriously and remain focused on their studies.
He warned that the scholarship is not a lifetime guarantee and can be withdrawn if beneficiaries engage in indiscipline, or fail to meet the expected academic standards.
“This scholarship is a privilege. The learners must work hard, maintain discipline and uphold good conduct both in and out of school. Any involvement in indiscipline could lead to loss of the scholarship,” he cautioned.
Wambua also noted that the scholarship strictly caters for learners admitted to boarding senior schools and those who performed well during their Junior Secondary School (JSS) assessments.
On his part, the Elimu Scholarship County Coordinator, Julius Thuku, said the selected learners genuinely deserved the support.
He noted that many of them came from extremely poor backgrounds and would not have been able to proceed to senior school without the scholarship.
“Some of these learners come from families that can barely afford basic needs. Paying senior school fees would have been impossible for them. This scholarship gives them hope and a chance to change their lives through education,” Thuku said.
He lauded partners who have worked closely with the government to ensure the success of the Elimu Scholarship programme saying their support has played a key role in reaching vulnerable learners across the country.
Thuku also revealed that the Elimu Scholarship programme will support up to 10,000 students countrywide this year.
In addition to the new Grade 10 beneficiaries, the programme is also sponsoring a section of learners who are currently in Form Three and Form Four.
Parents of the beneficiaries expressed hope that the scholarship will not only transform the lives of their children but also contribute to improved education outcomes in the county and beyond.
For many of the beneficiaries, the Elimu Scholarship marks the beginning of a new chapter filled with promise, opportunity and renewed determination to succeed.
On the beneficiaries, Bancy Maina said she scored 67 points in the KJSEA and with the scholarship she will be joining Mugoiri Girls High School, which is under category C1.
She lauded the government for the programme saying it will go a long way in helping bright learners from poor families who cannot afford fees for senior schools.
By Bernard Munyao and Purity Mugo
