NG-CDF takes shape as over 20,000 students benefit from Sh128million in bursaries

Hundreds of parents queue outside an NG-CDF office seeking bursary funds. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]

Some 20, 000 students from Luanda and Teso North constituencies have benefited from National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) bursary worth Sh128 million.

In Luanda, 12,617 students from secondary schools and tertiary institutions benefited from the Sh54.55 million NG-CDF bursary.

Another 58 students from vulnerable families who scored 350 marks and above in last year's Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exams have been placed on full scholarships.

"I have allocated Sh6,000 to 943 university students totaling to Sh5.6 million, those in technical institutions were 1,058 and each one of them got Sh5,000 totaling to Sh5.28 million and Sh5,000 went to 1,988 students in boarding schools totaling to Sh9.94 million," said Luanda MP Dick Maungu.

He went on: "Day schools had 8,415 students who have received Sh33.6 million where each student was allocated Sh4,000. Given that day schools pay Sh9,000 as tuition fees per year, the balance can now be paid by the parents."

Maungu presided over the issuance of the bursary cheques at Esibeye secondary school in Mwibona ward accompanied by Vihiga Women Rep Beatrice Adagala.

He said among the beneficiaries are 58 bright but needy learners who got full scholarships through Dick Maungu Foundation to join Form One in national and extra county schools.

"Majority of the learners were from poor and vulnerable families," said Maungu adding that total and partial orphans were given priority.

Ms Adagala promised to distribute water tanks to all public primary and secondary schools in the constituency starting next month as a way of mitigating water shortage in schools.

Luanda has 58 primary and 25 secondary schools.

In Teso North, a total of 8,125 students benefited from Sh73.6 million in bursaries.

Area MP Oku Kaunya, presided over the issuance of cheques at Kakapel Community Centre in Angurai South Ward.

"The NG-CDF sub-committee on education approved a total of 8,125 students including those in secondary schools, universities, and tertiary colleges to receive Sh40.375 million in bursaries," said Mr Kaunya.

He went on: "We have 11 students undertaking medicine on full scholarship with each allocated Sh400,000 translating to Sh4.4million, 17 law students each getting Sh100,000 (Sh1.7million) and two pilot students at Kenya School of Flying who will receive Sh15million in total."

According to Kaunya, 200 more students are on full scholarship at Kenya Medical Training Institute (KMTC) at Teso campus, with 100 others spread across other medical colleges in the country.

At least 11 students at Alupe University are receiving Sh80,000 each.