A unique bursary programme initiated by the Malindi National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) has kept more than 15,000 secondary students in schools as they are no longer sent home over fee arrears.
The initiative was introduced by MP Amina Mnyazi in 2022 and targets all students irrespective of their backgrounds, where each student in sub-county schools is awarded bursary worth Ksh4,000.
The programme has also brought on board five Members of County Assembly (MCAs) – Rashid Odhiambo (Malindi town ward), Twahir Abdulrahman (Shella ward), Oscar Wanje (Ganda ward), Morris Hinzano (Kakuyuni ward) and Khamis Jambo (Jilore ward) who through the Kilifi County ward scholarship fund, also award each of the students with a bursary of Ksh4,000 leaving the parents to shoulder the remaining Ksh8,000.
Speaking during the ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of a 45-learner laboratory worth Ksh3 million at Bishop Baldachino Secondary school in Ganda ward, Mnyazi said that she summoned all secondary school heads at the tail end of 2022 where she introduced the idea to them and they bought it.
“When I came up with the idea, I talked to all MCAs and they agreed with me and I then approached the principals who also agreed and we rolled it out,” she said.
The school principal Stephen Nyamai lauded the new bursary funding model saying that it had enabled continuous uninterrupted learning for students.
“The MP brought us together as principals within Malindi constituency and she told us about her plans which we fully embraced and it is a testimony from students that they have never been sent away from school due to school fees,” he said.
He urged parents to work hard and ensure that they clear the remainder of the school fees after getting half of it paid by the NGCDF and Kilifi County ward development Fund.
By Nehemiah Okwembah
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