The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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As students prepare for their third term, at least 600 underprivileged learners in Nyandarua County have received support from the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF) bursaries.
These students, many from impoverished families or those with disabilities, benefit significantly from this financial aid.
Nyandarua County Woman Representative Faith Gitau has defended the bursary program, urging the government to increase the funding. She criticized a recent proposal suggesting that bursary funds be directed to schools and managed by school administrators, arguing that this could negatively affect many beneficiaries.
The proposal, backed by some leaders, suggests consolidating all education-related funds—including those from County Government, NG-CDF, and NGAAF—into a single fund to make education free. National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula supports this idea, advocating for new legislation to simplify and unify the bursary system to address inconsistencies in current funding.
However, Gitau and Nyandarua Nominated MCA Muhindi Kariuki have expressed concerns about the potential negative impacts of such consolidation. Gitau emphasized the importance of understanding the beneficiaries’ perspectives, highlighting the significant positive changes bursaries bring to students in need.
Kariuki stressed that the current resources are inadequate to meet increasing needs, underscoring the role of bursaries in providing educational access to less fortunate students.
Both leaders called for careful consideration of the proposed changes to ensure that the support reaches those who need it most.
