Cabinet Secretary for Education Ezekiel Machogu has disclosed that 14,426 students out of 93,000 applicants, were successful in securing the coveted government’s Elimu Scholarship program.
Speaking at the launch of the 2024 Elimu Scholarship program on Friday, January 19, Machogu noted that the program has previously supported 37,574 students now making it 52,000 learners under the wing.
“So far, the Elimu Scholarship Program has supported about 37,574 learners from poor households across the country to transition from primary to secondary education. The additional 14,426 for this year means that the government will give hope to 52,000 learners. This initiative greatly supports the government’s 100% transition program.”
Perks of the scholarship
The CS also revealed additional opportunities for high-achieving students, noting that all 2023 students who scored an A or A- qualify for the Equity Leadership Program, where they will earn a monthly stipend of Ksh40,000.
“All the 2023 candidates who benefitted from the Elimu Scholarship Program and scored an A or an A (-) will automatically qualify to join the Equity Leadership Program. This will expose them to work experience and leadership training. During the program, students will have the opportunity to start earning Ksh40,000 per month,” Machogu added.
Also speaking at the luncheon, Basic Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang expressed confidence in the selection process, noting that the beneficiaries were indeed the most deserving.
“We visited the homes of beneficiaries, and we are sure that those who are here and those who have gone to school are most deserving. The demand for these scholarships remains high. Our applicants for the Elimu Scholarship were more than 93,000, and we have managed to take care of less than 15%,” Belio stated.
The Elimu Scholarship program is a collaborative effort between the government and the Global Partnership for Education under the Kenya Primary Education Equity in Learning (KPEEL) project. The initiative aims to bridge educational gaps, particularly for learners from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
