By Kamundia Muriithi
Embu County Government has disbursed bursaries worth Sh449 million to needy students in the last five years.
Speaking while disbursing this year’s Sh81 million worth of bursaries to more than 14,000 students, Governor Martin Wambora said the fund had enabled students in secondary schools, special schools; vocational training colleges and tertiary institutions access education with less financial strain.
Wambora said the county bursary had been a big relief to students from poor backgrounds, where in previous years some of them dropped out of school for lack of money for fees, uniform and food.
“We are committed to educating our children especially those from poor backgrounds. We expect to increase the figure next year so that more students are enrolled in the programme,” he said.
This year’s allocation is, however, a substantial drop from the Sh163 million that was allocated last year.
Embu Majority Leader Michael Njeru said the amount was reduced in the Education Ministry announced free day secondary education.
He said they slashed the amount, freeing some money to other development matters.
Wambora, who presided over the bursary launch at Kangaru School, announced plans by his administration to enroll 5,000 needy families in National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) so that their children in primary schools will be covered by the insurer.
He said the move would ensure pupils are covered the same way secondary school students have been enrolled in NHIF.
Education Executive John Kiamati said the county will employ 200 Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) teachers in July on permanent terms to attain adequate teaching staff in nursery schools for implementation of the new curriculum.
The county has already employed 483 ECDE teachers.
He said they will also employ five ECDE officers, 30 vocation training centre instructors and support staff.
