By Kamundia Muriithi
20,789 needy secondary school students from Embu County have benefitted from Shs 64.2 million worth of bursaries from the county government.
The amount disbursed was the first phase of the Embu County Education Support Fund and the beneficiaries, drawn from 260 schools in the county received amounts ranging between Shs 2,000 to Shs 10,000 depending on the level of their levels of needs.
Speaking to secondary school principals and representatives during the issuing of bursary cheques at Embu Talent Academy, Embu County Executive Committee Member for Education John Kiamati said the bursaries would help keep the students in school and ease the financial burden from their parents.
‘Stakeholders involved in vetting the beneficiaries should ensure only deserving students benefit,’ he said.
He argued that the lunch money, which most schools charge at Shs 4,000, should be optional for those in day schools.
Kiamati announced that plans were underway to ensure that phase two and phase three funds set to benefit needy learners in boarding secondary schools, tertiary intuitions and universities are processed and disbursed on time.
He called on policy makers to initiate another bursary scheme that will ensure some of the bright but needy students are offered full scholarships.
Embu County Assembly Education Committee Chair, Duncan Ireri called on the county government to prioritize education by ensuring funds allocated for bursaries are released on time.
Area MCAs who attended the event lauded the move saying that it will address the challenge of students dropping out of school due to lack of school fees.
Makima ward MCA Philip Nzangi called on MPs to take charge of monies paid in day schools to cater for lunch.
“Our students should not be sent home because of lack of money for food. I urge MPs to consider that in their CDF kitty,” said Nzangi.
Mwea ward MCA Harrison Mwaluko revealed that the new secondary schools in the area were the greatest beneficiaries of the bursaries, especially in Mwea ward
