Budalang’i bright girl appeals for help to raise fees for Form One

Mary Awory who is unable to join Form One due to lack of fees after scoring 324 marks at Nandekere Primary School in Budalang'i. [Ignatius Odanga, Standard]

A fourteen-year-old girl Mary Awory may not join Form One despite having posted excellent results in last year’s Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE).

Awory risks forfeiting her Form One chance despite scoring 324 marks at Nandekere Primary School in Budalang’i.

Awuory who was to join St Monica Chakol Girl’s Secondary in Teso South constituency, Busia County is still at home due to lack of school fees.

During an interview with the Standard at their home in Rudacho village, Budalang’i, she narrated how her parents have tried to source for fees to no avail.

The girl is appealeing to well-wishers to help her meet her get fees to meet her dream of becoming a lawyer.

“I really want to join Form One, but my parents have no money, I am appealing to well-wishers to help me continue with my education,” she said.

Awory's mother Lilian Auma, a peasant farmer said it is been hard to raise the school fee for her daughter. School fees for the whole year at Chakol is Sh40,535.

“The girl is disturbed, almost all the candidates they sat KCPE with last year have joined secondary but she is at home and it is still unclear whether she will join Form One or not due to financial constraints,” said Auma.

The headteacher of Nandekere Primary School Vincent Makokha described Awory as an obedient and hardworking girl.

“Mary is a girl who can deliver good results in secondary if she gets someone to pay her school fees,” said Makokha.

Friday was the last day for admission of Form One in secondary schools, but Awory was still at home.