A total of 9,000 beneficiaries of the Elimu Scholarship Programme will be proceeding to Form One, following the successful launch in Nairobi on Friday.
18,000 learners will be supported on full four-year secondary school scholarships, selected in two cohorts of 9,000 each.
The scholarship programme will be achieved at a cost of Ksh 3 billion within a period of 2 years and is supported by the World Bank-funded Secondary Education Quality Improvement Project (SEQIP) and implemented by Equity.
The Ministry of Education will publish a list of beneficiaries on their website for ease of reference by schools, parents and other interested parties.
This inaugural cohort saw more than 38,000 primary school graduates across the country apply for the scholarship.
Vulnerable children from financially constrained backgrounds will be considered for the inaugural 2020 cohort of 9,000 scholars under the Elimu Scholarship Programme.
Orphans and/or from vulnerable communities, those with special needs and disabilities who attained below 280 marks will also be considered.
Speaking during the launch at the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) in Nairobi, Education Cabinet Secretary Prof. George Magoha noted that the programme was unbiased and based on solid, verifiable and objective criteria.
The CS also lauded Equity for putting together a selection criteria which was free, fair, transparent and executed with integrity.
Elimu Scholarship Programme Implemented by Equity
The Government appointed Equity Group as the implementing agency of the inaugural Elimu Scholarship, due to the success of the Wings to Fly Program.
Equity Group Foundation Executive Chairman Dr James Mwangi who was present lauded the Government’s commitment in the Education sector.
Equity Group Foundation and Mastercard with additional support from Wings to Fly partners have provided 17,304 comprehensive secondary school scholarships.
“For every Elimu scholarship you have received, four applicants were competing for it,” Dr Mwangi said.
Scholarship programmes like Elimu Scholarship continue to provide opportunities for equitable access to education in the country.
This complements the Government’s efforts in ensuring that there is a 100% transition rate to secondary school.
Beneficiaries of the Wings to Fly scholarships have proven that given an opportunity, bright and needy students can achieve success.
In 2019, 81.3% of students obtained university qualifying grades which is four times the national average rate of 18.1%.
Representing the World Bank Country Representative Felipe Jaramillo, World Bank Senior Education Specialist Co-Task Team Leader (SEQIP) Ruth Charo, lauded the Government’s commitment to promoting access to education.
“We acknowledge Government efforts in resolving various inequalities in education. Financial constraints remain the main challenge prohibiting transition of students from primary to secondary school. We are confident that the Elimu Scholarship Programme will address these challenges,” she said.
