BY ELIZABETH MWIBANDA
Mentorship program for high school students’ has begun in Bungoma County targeting scholarship beneficiaries.
Engineer Agnes Wachiye, County Executive Committee Member (CECM), said the exercise has kicked off with Bungoma South Sub County and intends to move to other Sub counties in the county.
The CEC further stated that over 500 students turned up for the mentorship exercise.
Wachiye said that the objective of the scholarship program is to support vulnerable and bright learners access to better Education.
“The main aim of us meeting here today is to do a follow up on how our students who are entitled to the program are progressing with their studies, do guidance and counseling to encourage them to accept their state back at home and work extra hard,” she explained.
She urged parents not to rely so much on the program but rather support their children in paying school fees arrears as the County government supports in the payment of tuition fees.
“Parents should be dedicated in supporting our children through payment of school fees arrears from the little income they earn to help them stay in school with their fellow students,” she said.
Wachiye said that policies were put in place to make sure that students who are not qualified for the scholarship do not have an opportunity. This was after the large numbers of students were reported to have been enlisted in 2022.
“We had to revise our budget after receiving a total number of 8,000 students joining form one in 2022. And after the vetting through the Bungoma County Support Scheme we found out that a great number of students who were not meant for the program had been listed.”
Sam Nalwa, Education Chief Officer confirmed that a good number of students entitled to the scholarship are performing well and about 80% have scored above C+ and there is a great value for the money they had invested.
“From the good results we have had I urge parents to monitor our students back home during this holiday so that when schools resume they will maintain the spirit and do even better than this.”
He further gratified Governor Kenneth Lusaka and the officials in charge for allocating the funds to the needy students.
