The African Canadian Continuing Education (ACCESS) Kenya has awarded Sh. 1.3million scholarship to 100 students from vulnerable families in four counties of Western Kenya.
Access Kenya awarded the scholarships to post-secondary students drawn from Kakamega, Bungoma, Vihiga and Busia with an aim of alleviating poverty through education.
The students will be supported for their entire period of study. The Beneficiaries consist of 70 University Students, 20 college students and 10 students from Technical Vocation and Education Training (TVET).
Those in University will receive Sh. 10 000 per semester, Sh. 20 000 for those in College and Sh. 20 000 each for those in TVET institutions.
The Programme Director of Access Kenya, Anthony Mutevane said they received more than 655 applications for the scholarships and interviewed 220.
“Students applied for the scholarships in March, after home visits we selected 100 who will be sponsored for their entire period of study,” he noted.
Mutevane urged students who benefited from the scholarship earlier to join the Access Scholars Education Foundation where they can support other needy students.
Since its inception in 1993, access Kenya scholarship programme has supported over 5000 students from the four counties who hail from poor families.
The Chairperson of Access Kenya Advisory Committee, Pape Sembi said they work closely with the Canadian Committee where funds are raised to support students from poor families.
He said they are working with other stakeholders to raise their own funds in Kenya instead of fully relying on the Canadians. He urged students to work hard and transform the lives of their families.
Kakamega County Deputy Governor, Philip Kutima who launched the award of the scholarships at the Bukhungu stadium asked students to work hard and give back to society by helping other students.
The Government has today awarded the second cohort of 9,000 Elimu Scholarship beneficiaries, under the Kenya Secondary Education Quality Improvement Project.
The successful applicants emerged from a thorough selection process involving 54,000 applicants who sat the 2020 Kenya Certificate of Primary Education Examination (KCPE).
Speaking today during the launch of the Elimu Scholarship Programme at the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD), Education Cabinet Secretary Prof. George Magoha pointed out that more than 40,000 applicants who were not selected for this scholarship are also needy and require some form of sponsorship to meet the secondary school expenses such as boarding fee and cost of uniforms.
Cabinet Secretary for Education Prof. George Magoha, flanked by Polycarp Igathe, Group Chief Commercial Officer (left), Equity Bank and Principal Secretary Early Learning and Basic Education, Dr. Julius Jwan, issues awards letters to lucky pupils joining form one in August when he presided over the official launch of Elimu Scholarship program (ESP) for the 9,000 Cohort II beneficiaries at the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development on July 22, 2021.Photo by Kibet Cheptumo
“I am therefore urging other partners to step in and borrow a leaf from the Elimu Scholarship Programme and assist the many needy and vulnerable learners out there who need support,” said Magoha
The CS thanked the Equity Foundation for their Wings to Fly Programme, the KCB Foundation, Jomo Kenyatta Foundation and other organisations that support the learning costs for needy and vulnerable learners.
He appreciated the Equity Foundation for helping the Government to select the 9,000 Elimu Scholarship beneficiaries using their already tested and proven criteria of identifying needy and vulnerable children.
However, Prof. Magoha said there is a need for a robust coordinated and regulated environment for effective direction of philanthropic efforts.
This, he said, should be done with a view to eliminate duplication of efforts and manage any challenges that may be impeding effective administration of scholarships and other social support initiatives by partners.
The CS pointed out that the Elimu Scholarship Programme targeted 110 Sub-Counties and 15 urban centres with informal settlements.
“This year we affirmatively increased the allocation of learners from urban centres with informal settlements from 25% to 33.3 % of the 9,000 slots to cushion the very vulnerable households and give hope to the less fortunate,” he added.
He said the award of scholarships under the Elimu Scholarship Programme is testimony to President Uhuru Kenyatta’s motto of leaving no child behind in the provision of basic education to all, adding that he witnessed the selection process and it was fair and it will change lives and families.
Prof. Magoha said the Government is committed to fast tracking reforms in education, to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promotion of lifelong learning opportunities for all learners in line with our Constitution.
Responding to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Magoha said his ministry recently reviewed (downwards) the fees for secondary schools and called upon all stakeholders to ensure that the guidelines are adhered to.
“My Ministry has prioritised quality based educational reforms, which include implementation of the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) with a focus on nurturing every learner’s potential,” said Magoha
The CS congratulated the beneficiaries, and urged them to take this opportunity seriously and above all focus on their studies in the various schools where they have been admitted to.
Prof. Magoha said the cohorts shall be monitored to ensure they complete a whole cycle of secondary education.
