One hundred bright but needy students from Taita Taveta have been awarded a Kes. 15 million worth of scholarships to enable them to complete their secondary school education.
The scholarship will also cover school fees, stationery and school uniforms.
While issuing the Scholarship kitty at the headquarters of the county in Mwatate, Taita Taveta Governor Andrew Mwadime said that the scholarship’s beneficiaries were selected following a rigorous vetting exercise to ensure that only the needy benefit.
Mwadime emphasized the importance of education and said that he was committed to ensuring that the county’s standards of education are uplifted through programmes of that kind.
In addition, he implored the scholarship beneficiaries to take advantage of the opportunity and work hard for their future prosperity.
On his part, Deputy Governor Christine Kilalo called on the beneficiaries to avoid negative distractions which could hinder their academic progress.
She said that there are a number of students who would have loved to get the opportunity of the scholarship but were not chosen hence they should recognise the opportunity they had been given to change their families, county and the country as a whole.
“I would like to advise parents and guardians of the beneficiaries to keep working hard to provide their children’s necessities,” she said.
The County’s Health Executive Committee Member (CECM) Gifton Mkaya who spoke on behalf of Education, Libraries and Vocational Training Centres (VTCs) CECM Gloria Monikombo said that the scholarships are crucial to providing a level playing field for bright students who come from underprivileged families.
Taita Taveta County’s Deputy Speaker Anselm Mwadime issued a warning to students that there was the possibility of being discontinued from the sponsorship programme if they perform dismally.