By Philemon Kiprop
Elgeyo Marakwet County has inaugurated a 13-member Board of Education under the County Education Fund Committee with a call on members to keep up the goal of cultivating a sense of equality and fairness in funds disbursement.
The County Education Fund Committee Act, which was made into law and operationalized in 2017, is mandated to oversight the educational activities in the county for an effective service delivery.
Anita Kimwattan, County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Education and Technical Training said since the inception of the Board, majority of students from poor families have been able to pursue and further their education. She singled out a batch of students sent to Finland for nursing training as among beneficiaries.
She thanked the outgoing committee for their achievements in the last 3 years and acknowledged the growing recognition of the value of engagements at Ward level in education policy.
She encouraged the incoming team to carry out their tasks effortlessly and seamlessly.
“It is clear that the work must not stop here and we should work to ensure resources are managed effectively to ensure momentum is maintained over the coming years,” she said.
Education committee member Christopher Chemosong assured the new members that they will work hand in hand to achieve equality in bursaries distribution, assuring openness as a sure way of being transparent.
The Board is responsible for the management of the Fund, equitable distribution of the funds across the Wards, review of allocations, and approval, disbursement and monitoring of all allocations to ensure needy and deserving students are financed.
Other responsibilities are to maintain and update a database of all applicants and beneficiaries, produce and share disbursement reports with the County Assembly, and resolve disputes arising from the Ward Education Fund Committee.
They are also tasked with receiving, deliberating and approving applications for education loans.
The new Board members are Irene Kipchumba, Agnes Cheptoo, Benjamin Kiprotich, Jonathan Lagat Kipyego, Jane Kiplagat and Ursula Tarus.
Others are Fr. Paul Chelang’a, John Kigen, Nicholus Bett, Anita Toroitich, Kelvin Biwott, Nixon Changwony and Paul Tenoi.
