At least 30,516 vulnerable students in Kisumu County have received school fees worth Sh102 million.
Kisumu Deputy Governor Mathews Owili said the disbursement includes Sh4.3 million for those taking marine training.
Owili, who presided over the disbursement on behalf of Governor Anyang Nyong’o on Tuesday, said the selection of the beneficiaries was done fairly by County and Ward Education Bursary and Scholarship Committees enabling children from poor families to acquire education.
“These are students who were on the verge of losing hope in their quest to pursue dream careers. Today, we are here to put smiles back on their faces,” he said.
The DG noted that there are many needy students who are financially challenged in acquiring education in the county and called on other partners to come in and help the needy students.
“We send sincere appeals to these honoured partners to help us hold the hands of the needy students,” said Owili.
The county bursary allocation for the financial year 2022/2023 totalled Ksh.205 million with over 30,000 needy beneficiaries.
The county bursary allocation for the financial year 2022/2023 totalled Ksh.205 million with over 30,000 needy beneficiaries
Dr. Owili
The Fund
The education fund was gazetted in 2017, when Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o took over office.
The programme aims to increase retention and completion rates at the secondary level, motivate learners to aspire for excellence and stem the worrying trend of high secondary school drop-out rates.
Owili noted that the allocations for the kitty have been on an upward trajectory since 2017 and allocations per ward have been doubled from Sh.2M to Sh.4.1million.
I expect the establishment of three more VTCs, one at Lela in Kobura, Waware in Masogo/Nyang’oma, and Path Othany in East Seme in the Coming Year. Lela is almost ready
Dr.Owili
He further noted that the county government had budgeted for Sh205 million for the 2022/2023 financial year.
“The county bursary allocation for the financial year 2022/2023 totalled Ksh.205 million with over 30,000 needy beneficiaries,” said Owili.
The DG said they have digitised and improved the management of the kitty.
Additionally, Owili said the number of Vocational training Centres in Kisumu has increased from 20 to 26 since 2018 and three more were yet to be completed.
“I expect the establishment of three more VTCs, one at Lela in Kobura, Waware in Masogo/Nyang’oma, and Path Othany in East Seme in the Coming Year. Lela is almost ready,” he said.
Owili also said the county government has already released Sh206 million to the vocational training centres as capitation.
He said Nyong’o’s administration has since 2017 been laying strong foundations for the pre-primary programmes.
Because of the great job the ECDE teachers were doing, I doubled their salaries, making them some of the best paid teachers across the country
Dr. Owili
ECDE
Owili said they have established 684 public ECDEs and a similar number of private institutions under their jurisdiction.
“We have increased ECD Centres to 684, of which 627 are anchored in Primary Schools and 57 are stand- alone public ECD centres,” he furthered.
He also noted that the county government has doubled ECD teachers and employed 665 of them on permanent and pensional basis.
“Because of the great job the ECDE teachers were doing, I doubled their salaries, making them some of the best paid teachers across the country,” he said.
I also handed another surprise for our 665 ECDE teachers across the Seven Sub Counties, by putting them on permanent and pensionable employment terms. They no longer worry about renewing their contracts,” furthered Owili.