Ndhiwa Legislator Martin Owino has asked the Ministry of Education to elevate three schools in his constituency to national-level status.
He petitioned the ministry to elevate Mirogi Boys’, Magina Girls’ and Ratanga Boys Senior schools to national status.
He said learners from the area who qualified to join national schools were moving out of the constituency because there was not a single category one (C1) school.
The MP said he wants top learners from the region to be retained in the area but all the 52 senior secondary schools were below C1.
Mr Owino said that the situation makes the constituency appear as if its academic performance is low.
Homa Bay County has four national schools – Asumbi Girls, Ogande Girls, Mbita Boys and Homa Bay High school.
Mr Owino said parents from Ndhiwa chose to take their children to such schools because of their national status.
“I appeal to the ministry to consider my request. It is absurd that an old constituency like mine cannot be without a national school,” the legislator said.
Mr Owino said the National Government Constituency Development (NG-CDF) fund in Ndhiwa is already supporting hundreds of learners who are residents of the constituency but study in other regions.
“We are spending a lot of money in other national schools. This time, we want other people to also come to Ndhiwa. This will increase our social capital,” he said.
The legislator spoke when he disbursed National Government-Constituency Development Funds (NG-CDF) at Kaguria Senior secondary school in South Kabuoch.
He told parents not to rush in sending their learners to enrol in institutions far away.
“Some parents have a notion that students can only perform better when they are in other schools that are located away from their homes. Children can get good grades if they learn next to their homes. We are also in a better position to support needy students if they are learning from within the constituency,” the legislator said.
He disbursed Sh 40 million, which was sent to various secondary schools across the country. The money benefitted 7,129 students from a group of more than 10,000 who sent their application.
Among the beneficiaries are 138 vulnerable students who get full scholarships, with NG-CDF paying Sh 5.2 million for their education, with each getting Sh 40,000.
Mr Owino said over 31 million shillings was sent to tertiary institutions.
“We are supporting the training of artisans, including plumbers, masons, electricians and others, to promote self-employment,” he said.
The legislator added that 200 students who have different forms of disabilities received Sh 2 million to support their education.
“We have also distributed 990 bags of maize, 350 bags of beans and 200 bags of green grams, which I got from the Child Welfare Society. This is a broader plan to ensure no learner is sent home when government capitation fails to arrive on time,” Mr Owino said.
By Davis Langat
