By Habil Onyango
A section of Homa Bay parents have a reason to smile after the County Government released Sh.215million Fins to fly education scholarship fund on Friday.
The fund is set to benefit 480 needy but brighter students who are proceeding to form two and three in various Secondary Schools across the Country.
This comes at a time when the Schools are set for re-opening next week.
The initiative which was initiated three years ago, caters for the students by paying their full school fees, a whole year shopping and pocket money.
Speaking when she presided over the distribution of the distribution of the funds, Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga said that they have decided to distribute the funds early enough to allow all the students to get back to school in time without any itch.
She said her government will continue to support the beneficiaries by paying for their school fees and providing other basic needs up to the University level.
The Governor said that as a County Government, they made a deliberate decision that will ensure that no brighter and needy students will be left out of going to school.
“The Fins to swim Scholarship fund caters for the needy and brighter students whom some are total orphans, partial orphans or those whose parents can not cater for their School fees and provide for other basic needs,” said Wanga.
“This year we are distributing the funds to the first and the second cohort who are currently joining form two and three respectively,” she said.
The Governor however revealed that this year there will be no new beneficiaries joining form one due to the introduction of Curriculum Based Curriculum since no pupil sat for the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education last year.
Wanga however assured the parents that next year they will enrol another 240 pupils from all the 40 wards across the County who will be joining the Secondary level.
“I am very happy that the Lord has taken care of all our students who benefitted from the program for the gift of life and good health,” said Wanga.
According to Wanga, the selection of the beneficiaries is done through an open and accountable process through village clusters at the village level which ensures that the most needy learners get an opportunity to benefit from the kitty.
Wanga however advised the students to ensure that they remain focused in their studies, respectful, dutiful, responsible, considerate, kind and compassionate.
“I want to advise you to take the opportunity to make something greater out of your lives, even when we are gone you are the ones who will have an opportunity to hold other needy but needy student’s hand in your generation,” advised Wanga.
The beneficiaries were selected from some of the learners who scored 350 marks in their KCPE with six students being selected from each of the 40 wards each year.
“You are among the best students in our County and your target should be a B+ and above, no short of that since while in school there is nothing you people lack and there will be the time you will be sent home for school fees, the only thing is to focus on your studies,” said Wanga.
During the occasion, the Governor rewarded a number of students who featured in the top 10 in the last examinations.
A part from the scholarship fund Wanga revealed that they are continuing with the distribution of ward bursary funds at the tune of Sh215M in all 40 wards ahead of the re-opening of Schools to benefit other students.
The bursary is set to benefit other students who are in various day and boarding Secondary Schools who might have not succeeded in getting the scholarship.
“We are committed and focused on assuring that every student in Homa Bay is accorded an opportunity to pursue their dreams through education,” said Wanga.
“During my tenure as the County Governor, no child will miss an opportunity to go to school for lack of School fees, not under my watch,” she said.
