The Government of Kenya is set to reward some of the students who sat for the 2019 Kenya Certificate of Primary Education exam through the Ministry of Education.
People Daily, on Wednesday, January 8, reported that the government is set to launch the inaugural 18,000 Elimu Yetu scholarships, which would assist students from needy families to continue with their education through secondary school.
The scholarship, which costs approximately Ksh3 billion will be launched on Wednesday, January 8.
9,000 scholarships will be given to the students this year and the remainder in 2021.
Beneficiaries of the scholarships will be candidates who garnered 280 marks and above. Orphans and applicants from marginalised communities and those living with special needs but garnered below 280 marks may also be put into consideration.
"We are determined to utilise the Ksh3 billion scholarship program to ensure all the needy and vulnerable 2019 KCPE exam candidates are supported to gain admission to schools of their choice," Education CS George Magoha stated, as quoted by the news outlet.
The ministry partnered with the World Bank and Equity Group Foundation in the scholarships and will issue them to 110 targeted sub-counties and 15 urban settlements.
Cases of students lacking school fees despite attaining high marks have been in the spotlight.
On Tuesday, December 31, 2019, Kenyans.co.ke highlighted the case of Lydia Christopher Oyamo, 14, who garnered 401 marks in the 2019 KCPE examinations at C.M.F Excellent Education Center, Nairobi and secure admission to Kisumu Girls High School. However, her parents were unable to raise her school fees.
Her headteacher, Denis Mugambi, had facilitated Lydia's studies at the school for three years after her father, Christopher Juma, who resides in Nairobi's Kayole estate with his family, became ill and bedridden.
In another case, on Friday, December 27, 2019, a 13-year-old girl from Kisumu's Nyalenda slum allegedly penned a suicide note to her parents upon establishing that her parents were unable to afford Ksh 53,544 school fees for her Form One education.
The girl garnered 391 marks at Xarevian Primary School in Kisumu Central and was drafted to join Asumbi Girls High School in early January 2020.
Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino has offered to pay school fees for her, stating that he felt obligated to lend a helping hand.
