- A scholarship programme in Nandi is enabling hundreds of learners from vulnerable families to complete secondary education.
- Nandi Woman Representative Cynthia Muge says financial hardship should never deny deserving children an opportunity to realise their potential.
- She urges beneficiaries to reward the investment through discipline, hard work and commitment to their studies.
More than 400 needy students in Nandi County are set to sit their national secondary school examinations after receiving full scholarships under a programme spearheaded by Woman Representative Cynthia Muge.
A total of 406 beneficiaries will sit the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations this year after being supported through the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF).
Another 43 students under the programme are expected to sit their examinations next year, bringing the total number of beneficiaries receiving full scholarships to 449.
Speaking at Namgoi Junior School, Muge said the initiative was intended to remove financial barriers that prevent children from poor families from completing their education.
She said no child should be forced out of school because their parents or guardians are unable to raise school fees.
“Every child deserves an opportunity to go to school and realise their potential, regardless of the economic circumstances of their family,” Muge said.
“We must continue investing in our young people because they are the future of Nandi.”
Education as a tool for transformation
The Woman Representative said education was among the most effective ways of transforming families and communities, particularly by giving young people the skills and knowledge required to improve their livelihoods.
She said the beneficiaries were selected from economically vulnerable families and had been given an opportunity to pursue secondary education alongside learners from financially stable households.
Muge urged the students to repay the investment by remaining disciplined and committed to their studies.
“The scholarship programme is an investment in your future. You must work hard and remain disciplined so that you can make the most of this opportunity,” she said.
She also asked parents and guardians to complement the scholarship support by providing learners with emotional and moral support and creating conducive conditions for study at home.
According to Muge, the value of education extends beyond securing employment.
She said education empowers individuals to participate in the social and economic development of their communities and provides young people with the foundation to pursue further training, entrepreneurship and other career opportunities.
Supporting vulnerable learners
The Woman Representative called for collective efforts by leaders, communities, schools and other stakeholders to address barriers affecting access to education among vulnerable children.
She said the scholarship programme had offered significant relief to families facing financial difficulties at a time when the cost of education continues to strain household incomes.
Education stakeholders in Nandi have welcomed programmes that provide financial support to needy learners, saying such interventions can help reduce school dropout and improve transition to secondary education.
The 406 beneficiaries will now join thousands of other candidates sitting the KCSE examinations later this year.
Muge said she was encouraged by the number of beneficiaries reaching the examination stage and pledged to continue supporting programmes that expand access to education.
“These young people have been given a chance to remain in school, complete their education and pursue the careers of their choice. We will continue championing programmes that give disadvantaged children that chance,” she said.
She urged the candidates to remain focused on their goals, saying their success would have an impact beyond their individual lives.
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“Your academic success will transform your lives, give hope to your families and contribute to the future of our communities,” she said.
By Kimutai Langat
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