Kwale County Governor Fatuma Achani has urged parents and guardians in the county to remain patient and await official direction from the Controller of Budget regarding the continued provision of bursaries to needy students. The governor's appeal comes amid concerns about the future of bursary programmes in the county. Governor Achani emphasized that the county government is committed to supporting students from disadvantaged families to access and remain in school.
According to Governor Achani, the Council of Governors has already submitted a request to the Controller of Budget seeking approval for county governments to continue supporting vulnerable and needy learners through bursary programmes. The request has been pending for about two months as the counties await guidance from the Controller of Budget. Governor Achani stressed that counties must follow the required procedures and guidelines before disbursing bursary funds.
The Kwale County government has been actively supporting education through its flagship Elimu ni Sasa programme. Since its inception, the programme has supported the education of over 30,000 secondary school students across all 20 wards in the county. Additionally, the county has sponsored more than 10,000 university students through the bursary programme. The county has also increased bursary allocations from KSh 400 million to KSh 500 million to ensure that no deserving learner is left behind.
Governor Achani made these remarks at Moyeni Girls Senior School in Kinango during the official handover of a new school bus. The governor assured parents that the county leadership is following up on the matter and will communicate the next steps once the official direction is received. She called on parents not to panic or lose hope, emphasizing that the county government remains committed to supporting students.
The Governor's appeal has been echoed by education stakeholders in the county. Chairperson of All Chief Principals, Siasa Mwafungo, thanked the County Government for the bursary support it has been providing. Mwafungo urged the government to make every effort to resolve the matter to ensure that schools have sufficient funds to meet the needs of students during the remaining months of the school year.
The issue of bursary funding is critical in Kwale County, where many students rely on the support to access education. The county government's commitment to education is evident in its increased allocation of funds to the bursary programme. Governor Achani's assurance that the county will continue to support students has come as a relief to many parents and guardians.
The Council of Governors' request to the Controller of Budget is awaiting approval, and once approved, county governments will be able to disburse bursary funds to needy students. Until then, parents and guardians have been urged to remain patient and await official direction. The county government's efforts to secure funding for bursaries demonstrate its commitment to supporting education in the county.
Key points
- The Council of Governors has submitted a request to the Controller of Budget seeking approval for county governments to continue providing bursaries to needy students.
- Kwale County has supported over 30,000 secondary school students and 10,000 university students through its Elimu ni Sasa programme.
- The county has increased bursary allocations from KSh 400 million to KSh 500 million to support more students.
