Win for Needy Learners in Homa Bay as Governor Wanga Signs Bursary Act 2024

 

Governor Gladys Wanga has officially signed the Homa Bay County Bursary and Scholarship Act, 2024. This is aimed at improving efficiency in the allocation of bursary funds to needy learners. TUKO.co.ke understands that the Act replaces the previous Homa Bay County Education Bursary Fund Act, 2015. Inside Homa Bay County Bursary and Scholarship Act, 2024. The law introduces innovative scholarship programs such as the Vocational Training Center scholarship, known as Fundi Mang’ula, and the Fins to Swim scholarship.  “These programs are designed to support bright and needy students at different education levels. To date, over 540 Form One students and 600 Fundi Mang’ula beneficiaries have received a total of KSh 210m in educational support,” said Wanga. Also, the Act simplifies the application and approval process for bursaries and scholarships by implementing a streamlined, paperless system. It covers students in secondary schools, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions, certificate and diploma colleges, and universities. The Act further upholds the principles of citizen participation by decentralising the application and appraisal process to village clusters. These forums will play a crucial role in decision-making regarding the allocation of educational funds, ensuring transparency and accountability in the distribution process. In 2023, over 270 bright and needy pupils selected to join Form One in Homa Bay benefited from a scholarship funded by the County Government of Homa Bay to the tune of KSh 130 million. The support spearheaded by Wanga dubbed “Fins to Swim” aims to ensure no child in the county drops out of school due to lack of fees. Speaking when she flagged off the beneficiaries, Wanga said that the support would cover secondary as well as university education on the condition that they performed well. She thanked the County Assembly of Homa Bay for allocating funds for the programme within a short period after the constitution of the Assembly following the last general elections. “There is nothing greater than education since it is the equalizer and brings positive changes in the society,” Wanga said. 

by  Faith Chandianya