State Pledges to Fully Support Elimu Scholarship Students

As the first batch of Elimu scholarship students prepares to take their KCSE exams this year, the government has committed to ongoing support for those who would move on to universities and TVET schools.

The government, through Beth Kitoo, Directorate of Projects Coordination and Delivery at the Ministry of Education, promised students that the new higher education finance model will completely cater to their college education.

She stated that the financing will be a huge help to academically outstanding and bright students who come from vulnerable and low-income backgrounds.

In addition, she stated that the timely adoption of the new funding model will assure the program’s continuity and viability in order to fully fulfil its intended aim.

“The new funding model came just at the right time because any programme that is implemented must have a sustainability plan. We are very happy because we know that our scholars under the Elimu scholarship, who are sitting for the KCSE exam later this year, will be supported under the new funding model, 100 percent,” she said.

Speaking on Friday, Kitoo encouraged the program’s candidates to work hard in their studies in order to continue benefiting from the plan and to fully realise their objectives.

“With all this kind of financial support from the government and its partners, you have absolutely no reason not to work hard in your studies. Ensure you dedicate your time to your studies because when it is all said and done, you will have no one to shift your failure on because all the hurdles were removed,” she told the students.

The education official also praised the Equity Foundation, which also operates a different project dubbed ‘Wings to Fly,’ for its expertise and organisation in delivering the Elimu scholarship, which is sponsored by the government in collaboration with other donors.

She stated that due to appropriate management, the programme has thus far been regarded as one of the Ministry of Education’s successful programmes. She stated that the ministry was learning valuable lessons as a result of its success.

Currently, she stated, Elimu has 37,575 beneficiaries spread across the country’s secondary schools. Kitoo expressed optimism in the program’s continued expansion, which will hopefully see it accommodate up to 52,000 scholars, including this year’s Class 8 candidates.

Kitoo encouraged pupils to maintain excellent behaviour and confront life with a positive and enthusiastic attitude while speaking to 1,000 Elimu scholarship recipients during a mentorship session at Baricho Boys in Kirinyaga.

She also stated that the government will not withdraw its support for schoolgirls who have dropped out due to pregnancy, but will ensure that they return to school in order to continue their studies.

“This however is not to encourage school girls to fall pregnant. We want them to take care of themselves because we need them in schools,” she added.

Prof Mary Ndung’u, Vice Chancellor of Kirinyaga University, lauded the government for the new university funding model, saying it will be a game changer in terms of Kenyan students’ access to university education.

“We are grateful to the government for its boldness in devising and its willingness to implement the funding model. We have been looking forward to this all these years because it seeks to bring fairness and equity in access to university education,” she said.

Kirinyaga West Deputy County Commissioner John Mbugua warned students that using drugs and abusing substances risks destroying their future.

He regretted that many parents around the world are today struggling to guide their children away from or prevent drug addiction.

Martin Gacheru, Administrator of Kirinyaga Central Sub-County, pushed the students to use education to change their neighbourhoods, country, and continent.

He asked them to be the generation that will right the wrongs by rejecting the long-held practice of exploiting education for self-interest and the pursuit of illegitimate wealth.

He regretted that this unseemly selfish propensity had often prevented the African continent from reaching its full potential. This is because many young people who should be directing the economy’s turbines have resorted to seeking methods to relocate to industrialised countries, he claims.

Equity Foundation executives present encouraged students to continue putting forth greater effort in their studies and assured them that the foundation will continue to walk alongside and assist them throughout their secondary school careers.