Runyenjes students get Sh8 million in bursaries
BY EMMA MUGECHI
Students in need of school fees from Runyenjes Central Ward
in Embu County have a reason to smile after area MCA Steve Simba disbursed
bursaries amounting to Sh8 million.
The students had waited for close to two terms for the
county bursaries. Speaking at Runyenjes social hall, Simba said 1877 secondary
and college students benefitted.
The MCA who is also the Deputy Speaker told parents and
teachers that all the students from poor family backgrounds who had applied for
money had been considered.
“We vetted the applicants and all of them qualified to be
awarded bursaries. However, the amount each of them got depended on some
factors including the level of education and whether the applicant was an
orphan or not including other factors,” he said.
He said each student in secondary school received between
Sh3, 000 to Sh5, 000 while those in colleges received Sh8, 000 each adding that
he is committed to ensure that no bright and needy student drop out of school
due to lack of fees.
Simba said over the years, enrolment for bursaries had
increased not only in his ward but also in the entire county.
“The campaigns that we did for 100 percent transition
translated to increased students in need of the bursaries. We will do our best
to ensure the students complete their education,” he said.
Simba added that investments in spurring education, such
fitting tiles in nursery school classes among those under the county government
are ongoing advising parents on instilling sense of responsibility to their
children.
Mercy Njeri, a parent whose child benefited appreciated the
assistance in fees by the government through bursaries.
She said he child had been sent home severally for fee,
calling upon the government to be swift in disbursing bursary monies, whether
in national or county levels.
MCA Simba who said parents should change the strategy of how
they are bringing up their children.
Simba noted that many parents had no time for their children
leaving teachers to both instill and nurture values in them (children).
“If we want to see change, we must first change as parents.
Have time with your children. Education for children is not just going to
school and back home,” he said.
Simba who is also the Embu’s Deputy Speaker said some
parents haul unprintable words in the presence of their children—threatening
discipline in the society.
He said parents ought to respect presence of their children
if their want them to acquire discipline and end the immorality cases which are
increasing in the society by day.
The Deputy Speaker noted that both parents and teachers
ought to foster self-esteem to the learners.
At the same time, Simba urged the government through the
National Cereals and Produce Board stores to purchase produce from the farmers
at a good price and send the food into the day schools.
“If we get food into the schools, it means we will have a
zero budget for the day secondary schools and the free education will be
achieved. The parents will only be left with the mandate of motivating
children, teachers and other staff, something that they will do easily,” Simba
said.
He noted that due to feed budget, fee in day secondary
schools were at times going to the heights of Sh20, 000 making it hard for
parents to concentrate with colleges and other tertiaries institutions where
they have children.
Education consultant and motivational speaker, Joe Mwangi, advised
parents to invest in their children but not invest for them (children).
He noted that some parents were keen buying things for their
children without empowering them to prosper—even in future. Mwangi said an
empowered child leads a successful life.
He noted that some parents ignored things that would help
their children prosper in the pretext that education in the country is ‘free.’
“When you are told to pay some money for your children to
attend a symposium, you decline. Invest in your child and not for them. Don’t
give your child things, give them wings because with wings, they will get
things,” he told about 2, 500 people who attended.
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