Some 77 students from humble backgrounds in Busia County are set to benefit from Equity Foundation Elimu scholarship.
A total of 1028 students applied for the program, out of whom 270 were interviewed. From the list, 43 boys and 34 girls succeeded, having been sourced from five sub counties out of seven; Matayos, Nambale, Butula, Funyula, and Bunyala.
While presiding over the colorful event at Farm view hotel, Busia Deputy County Commissioner Kipchumba Ruto applauded the selection committee for due diligence and fairness in their selection process.
“The main objective of this scholarship program is to give wings to financially constrained students to access education in accordance with government policy of 100 per cent transition,” said Ruto.
Students who benefit under Elimu scholarship are basically from public primary schools. Elimu scholarship programme is sponsored by the Equity Bank, Kenya government, master card foundation, and World Bank.
This year, around 9000 students from poor backgrounds across the country will benefit from this program.
Ruto noted that the initiative is in tandem with government policy of access to education for all, and provision of equal opportunity to every Kenyan child to transit from primary to secondary school.
He at the same time directed all chiefs in Busia County to commence mopping exercises to ensure all candidates who sat for KCPE exams 2021 report to their respective secondary schools.
“I am directing all the chiefs to make sure that KCPE graduates of the year 2021 proceed to secondary schools without fail,” he said.
Ruto urged the school principals to be innovative to accommodate all the students irrespective of their capacity. He further warned school heads against sending away students without school fees as the government is addressing the matter.
On his part Equity Bank Busia Branch manager Masinde Oscar warned the beneficiary students that they must uphold dignity and show commitments in their studies to continue enjoying their scholarship.
“We won’t hesitate to discontinue any student under our program who engage in school unrest and doesn’t attain B grade in the school assessments,” he noted
Masinde added: “The scholarship program will cater for school fees, transport to and from school, learning materials, pocket money, and school kit for the beneficiaries for the four-year education period.”
