Questions Over Bursary Funds.
Questions Over Bursary Funds. Title: Challenges in Bursary Fund Distribution as 300,000 Students Face Secondary School Fee difficulties.
The government’s ongoing efforts to track down approximately 300,000 2023 KCPE candidates yet to enroll in secondary school have brought to light concerns about how these learners, facing financial difficulties, missed out on school fees.
Universities Suffers Scarcity Of Professors. What Will They Do?
Concerns over Bursaries and Scholarships Allocation
Questions arise regarding the beneficiaries of diverse bursaries and scholarships, spanning elected leaders and private institutions. Is there a transparent criterion for distributing these funds, or are they reaching undeserving recipients?
Diverse Funding Avenues and Struggling Students
Despite available funding options such as the National Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF), private institution scholarships, and programs initiated by elected leaders, students are grappling with financial challenges.
 Case Studies Raise Questions
An audit report reveals misuse of CDF funds in Kimili and Aldai constituencies, emphasizing the need for scrutiny in fund management. Specific cases, like Salome Cheptoo and Vivian Cherotich, shed light on students unable to secure funding despite various funding avenues.
Challenges in Bursary Distribution Criteria
Salome Cheptoo’s situation prompts questions about the criteria for bursary distribution and why many students, including her, still seek financial support.
Magnitude of Allocated Funds
In the 2022/23 financial year, NG-CDF received an estimated Ksh.53.5 billion, with MPs authorized to allocate 40% to bursaries. This amounts to over Ksh.20 billion. Despite this, needy students like Salome and Vivian are struggling.
Call for Centralized Bursary Management
Former KESSHA National Chairman Kahi Indimuli acknowledges challenges in bursary management, suggesting a centralized system to prevent students from receiving multiple bursaries.
Government Response and Proposed Solutions
Basic Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang recognizes the need for reform, aiming to revamp the Jomo Kenyatta foundations to coordinate bursary recipients and prevent double funding.
MP Perspectives on Distribution Challenges
MPs like Robert Mbui and Beatrice Elachi discuss the challenges in bursary distribution. Mbui emphasizes a people-led process, while Elachi acknowledges the need for streamlining to ensure the education sector’s functionality.
 Hope Amidst Challenges
Despite the ongoing struggles and uncertainties, needy students express hope in finding well-wishers to support their secondary education dreams. The situation underscores the pressing need for a comprehensive and fair bursary distribution system.