Kisii County Governor Simba Arati has released cheques worth KSh77.8 m Ward Bursary to Form One students and learners at Vocational Training Centres (VTCs) across the county to foster their education.
He said the bursary will benefit 18,622 students at the learning Institutions, noting that last time the county disbursed KSh167 million to form two, three and four students.
The Governor noted it was the first time learners at the VTCs were getting bursaries adding that the county delayed in releasing the funds to form ones as it awaited them to be admitted at various schools after their KCPE examination.
“The bursary will help parents and guardians offset balances for their children at various schools and VTCs to enhance their education,” Arati said at Kisii Agricultural Training Centre.
Governor Arati accompanied by Education Executive Committee Member Eric Ongeri, County Assembly Education Committee Chairman Victor Ombasa implored Ward Administrators and Ward Bursary Committee members to ensure each student gets his or her portion.
He told VTC Principals to budget for the funds to benefit the institutions, emphasizing, the money is not meant to clear debts and will not allow them to waste the funds.
“Some Principals are corrupt. We have a case where one of the Principals engaged a teacher as an accountant and allowed students to pay fees through M-pesa to embezzle funds,” Arati stated.
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The Governor appealed to Members of the County Assembly to allocate more funds for the county to support Gen Z students join VTCs and acquire skills before they join universities and middle level colleges.
Orphans and learners from poor families, noted the governor were given a priority in the disbursement of the bursary fund and asked villagers to identity other bright children from impoverished families to be assisted join schools, complete their education and exploit their potential.
The County, noted the governor is constructing Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) classrooms and has employed teachers permanently to give the learners a firm foundation.
He appealed to parents and guardians to ensure that their children go to school to benefit from the bursaries, adding, it had been increased from KSh135 million to KSh225 million to benefit more learners.
“The county is constructing roads and the classrooms to ensure that the schools are accessible and the children learn smoothly,” Arati noted.
The governor appealed to the Principals to make budgets for the funds to avoid misusing them.
By Emmanuel Gwakoi
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