Professionals raise fees for the needy

Murang'a county government education advisor Mr Isaac Njai handing over a prize to a needy student who has been sponsored by professionals from Itaaga village to pursue his secondary education. PHOTO BY BONIFACE GIKANDI.

Murang’a County: Professionals from Itaaga village in Maragua constituency have offered to pay secondary school fees for needy but bright children in the area.

The professionals led by Irungu Ngige raised funds that facilitated 18 students from Itaaga Primary School to join secondary schools after their parents were unable to raise the fees.

This follows an education mentorship programme established three years ago after the school continued to post poor performance at the national examination.

There were celebrations on Friday as the residents witnessed the first ceremony to award the beneficiaries.

In last year's Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examinations, the school emerged the most improved in Murang'a County after it attained a mean score of 237.80 up from 178.66 the previous year.

In 2012, the school registered a mean score of 170.52 - a move that caused panic among the parents who held demonstrations demanding the removal of the then head teacher.

Mr Ngige said the professionals meet monthly to discuss ways to improve educational standards in their former primary school, and to motivate teachers.