Education stakeholders in Thika plan to embark on an intensive mop-up exercise to ensure all learners who completed Grade 9 transitioned to senior secondary school.
The exercise comes after more than half of the candidates who sat for Kenya Junior Secondary Education certificate reported for their Grade 10 classes, with the government insisting that none will be allowed to remain at home for whatever reason.
Speaking during the flagging-off of Elimu Scholarship beneficiaries at the Deputy County Commissioner’s offices in Thika West Sub-County, the Sub-County Director of Education, Morris Sifuna, said education officers in collaboration with local administrators, will move across villages and estates to identify learners yet to transition to Grade 10.
Sifuna noted that the government is keen on achieving 100 per cent transition and will not tolerate cases where learners are kept at home while their peers have already settled in school.
He warned that parents who deliberately fail to take their children to school risk facing legal action.
“We will carry out a thorough mop-up exercise to ensure every Grade 10 learner reports to school. No child should be left behind while education is free and mandatory,” said Sifuna.
At the same time, he urged parents and guardians facing genuine challenges such as lack of school fees, illness or social hardships to report to education offices for assistance, instead of keeping learners at home.
He said government officers, together with partners, are ready to intervene and provide solutions for needy cases.
Sifuna further called on well-wishers, faith-based organisations and corporate partners to support vulnerable learners, saying collaboration is critical in ensuring all children access education.
He noted that education officers are willing to work closely with such partners to identify and support deserving students.
Parents whose children benefited from the Elimu Scholarship expressed relief, saying the support had lifted a heavy financial burden.
They said the assistance had enabled their children to report to school without stress despite harsh economic conditions.
One of the beneficiaries, Kevin Ng’ang’a, said the scholarship had restored his hope of continuing education after financial difficulties nearly forced him to drop out.
According to the local education office, 880 learners applied for the Elimu Scholarship.
After vetting, interviews and home assessments, only 33 needy candidates, 17 girls and 16 boys, qualified. The beneficiaries received full secondary school support, including bedding, books, personal items and pocket money.
By Wangui Moraa and Muoki Charles
