By Betty Luke
Needy learners from Isiolo will soon benefit from county bursaries following an amendment of the Education Bursaries Act paving way for allocation and disbursement of funds.
Isiolo Governor Mohamed Kuti said the amended Bursary Act will allow smooth disbursement of the funds to needy learners whose parents have been struggling to raise school fees due to the harsh economic times occasioned by Coronavirus.
“Bursaries will be given priority in the supplementary budget during the first quarter of the year and will immediately be disbursed to the needy learners,” said Dr Kuti.
The Governor said that the Controller of Budget had blocked funds due to some deficits but they had been rectified.
Speaking after signing the amended Acts that included Livestock Yard Sales Fund, Women, Youth and PWDs Fund and Emergency Funds at his office, Dr Kuti maintained that his administration was fully committed to ensuring that needy learners continue with their education without challenges.
“This time we will raise the bursary figure adequately depending on the availability of funds because Covid-19 has hard hit our economy,” he said.
When asked when the students are expected to receive the monies, the Governor did not give a candid time frame.
Isiolo County Assembly Speaker Hussein Roba appealed to elected elders to join hands in helping learners from poor families access quality education to be able to achieve their dreams.
Mr Roba lamented increasing cases of unfairness in awarding of the funds that have locked out the deserving learners while children from able families get huge allocations.
“Leaders should work together in assisting the needy and not politicizing issuance of bursaries,” Mr Roba told The Press Point.
