Nyeri Town legislator Duncan Mathenge will petition Parliament to increase funding for education bursaries and scholarships to support learners from needy backgrounds and cushion families affected by the high cost of living.
Mathenge observed that there is growing demand for bursaries against the limited resources available for education financing.
He noted that out of the 402 applications presented to the selection committee in his constituency for consideration for the scholarship, only 21 students were successful.
Mathenge now says that he will lobby members of Parliament to increase the budgetary allocation for scholarships to ensure more needy learners benefit from the kitty.
“The demand is really high and we are picking a very small minority and, therefore, one of the things to do when we resume Parliament is to push for an increase in the scholarship kitty. It is clear that the need to finance education for children from humble families is high,” said Mathenge.
The MP spoke on Tuesday when he flagged off beneficiaries of the Elimu Scholarship Programme sponsored by Jomo Kenyatta Education Foundation.
Mathenge also revealed that plans are underway for his office to release some Sh30 million in bursaries for secondary schools and college students under the National Government Constituency Development Fund in the next two weeks.
He dismissed claims that the government is unaware of the funding gaps in education funding noting that the Ministry of Education continues to receive one of the largest shares of the national budget.
Mathenge nonetheless stressed the need for holistic analysis of the current funding system to ensure equal access for all children.
“What we should be doing is to actually enhance the budgeted amount going towards scholarship. We still have a gap, despite the Ministry of Education receiving the highest share of the finances in the budget. I know that the county government is also complementing the efforts by the national government through its scholarship programme and in due course we shall see the release of money from the county government and CDF,” said Mathenge.
In Nyeri County, 86 Grade 10 learners will benefit from the three-year scholarship which will cater for their school fees and essential personal items.
Nyeri Central Deputy County Commissioner Maina Ngunyi noted that the beneficiaries had been selected from a pool of 2,700 applicants. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring that all the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment graduates transition to their respective senior schools.
Central Region Director of Education Sabina Aroni confirmed that schools across the region had achieved 100 per cent opening for the first term. She added that the admission of Grade 10 learners in Senior School had begun, with about 60 per cent of them reporting by January 12.
“The reporting and admission were done by the placement portal for the Ministry of Education which is a component of the Kenya Education Management Information System. From the information we received from the teachers who were using the system, it was very efficient and it was working well. We will be able to follow up throughout the region, the officers are on high alert and we will be able to know if there are any challenges,” said Aroni.
On the issue of Grade 10 transfers, Aroni said that a total of 38,000 requests had been received during the second revision period which commenced on December 6. She reiterated her call to parents to consult Ministry officials at the county and sub-county level on schools that have vacancies before making their request for transfers adding that the parents need to be strategic
“I still advise parents in the region that they are free to visit the sub-county offices and county offices so that we give them further guidance. If a learner has been selected for a school rather than wasting time transferring them to another school, they can report to schools where they have been selected. But if there is a desperate situation that requires attention we are ready to support,” she said.
A total of 569 scholars from across the Central Region will benefit from the scholarship, 299 of them being girls while 270 of them are boys.
Nationally 10,000 learners have been mapped to benefit from the scholarship which is a joint venture between the Government of Kenya and World Bank Group. Out of this number, 4,000 of the slots have been earmarked for refugees while 2,400 will go to students living in informal sectors.
By Wangari Mwangi and Samuel Maina
