Family Group Foundation will spend KES 30 million on scholarships for students from needy backgrounds joining form 1 this year.
The funds, channelled through the Family Group Foundation 2021 High School Scholarship Program, will benefit more than 100 students in 11 counties who are transitioning from primary to secondary school having received their KCPE exams results.
“Every year, many students from underprivileged backgrounds fail to join secondary schools for lack of financial resources. It is projected that this year, the situation could even be worse thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic that has ravaged our economy and seen many families lose their income, and as such, will struggle to pay school fees for their children,” said Family Bank CEO Rebecca Mbithi.
She added that the disorientation of the education sector that included a 9-month halt of learning in schools due to lockdowns has also greatly impacted many students psychologically meaning the students need more support than ever before.
According to data from the Ministry of Education, a total of 20,000 students comprising Grade 4, Class 8 and Form 4 students failed to report back to school and a total of 2,543 KCPE candidates failed to sit for the exam.
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“As a foundation, through our education pillar, we will be able to offer bright and needy students the opportunity to pursue and successfully complete secondary education. This will provide relief to parents struggling to meet tuition needs and greatly contributing to the 100 per cent transition policy put in place by the Ministry of Education,” she added.
The awarded scholarships will cater for both tuition and upkeep for the beneficiaries in the 11 counties. The target counties include Bungoma, Kisumu, Kiambu, Kajiado, Mombasa, Makueni, Meru, Muranga, Nakuru, Nyeri and Uasin Gishu.
Interested candidates from these counties can apply by acquiring an application form from the nearest Family Bank branch, Sub-County branch or the Family Group Foundation website.
To date, the Foundation has invested over KES 150 million in the education sector through scholarships and also supporting inclusive education for children living with autism.
