Shinyalu Member of Parliament (MP) Fred Ikana has unveiled bursary cheques to all-day and boarding senior schools and also announced an increase in bursaries for students to Sh50,000.
The MP said that, working in partnership with NG-CDF officials, he will be committed to providing students with bursaries to improve their academic performance.
Speaking during the disbursement of bursary cheques, he disclosed that earlier on, he chaired a closed-door consultative meeting with principals across the constituency to increase bursaries.
The launch of the bursary programme, themed Empowering Education, Securing the Future, engaged all principals and education stakeholders across the constituency.
“There is no principal who will walk out of the event with less than a Sh150,000 bursary cheque,” the MP said.
The lawmaker revealed that students in both day and boarding senior schools will receive bursaries regardless of their background.
Mukumu Boys Senior School principal Sylvester Ashioya expressed gratitude for receiving a bursary cheque of Sh1.3 million and also represented Mukumu Girls, the sister school, which received a cheque of Sh1.63 million.
The two schools received the most bursaries.
Mundulu Senior School, which hosted the event, received Sh400,000. The school has a student population of 130, but faces a poor state of infrastructure.
Mundulu was among the best schools in last year’s KCSE, and the MP pledged to prioritise support for the institution. He also noted that all students should be issued with Sh3,000 bursaries, as the community is needy and has vulnerable children who need support in learning.
Mundulu Principal Michael Otieno was delighted to host the MP and highlighted that the bursary cheque of Sh400,000 he received will cater for the lunch programme in addition to the development of school projects.
“Although we have received the cheque, I wish the MP could talk about commissioning of infrastructure developments, including construction of the staffroom and the principal’s office,” Mr Otieno stated.
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However, he pointed out that a major challenge facing the school is that parents pay very low amounts, such as Sh100 or Sh200 for lunch levy, and raising Sh20,000 takes months.
He noted that the delivery of bursary cheques will help ensure the smooth running of the school.
By Hilda Atika
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