Busia County Government has released Kshs 63 million to carter for fees for 4200 students in 18 registered public polytechnics but only 2800 students have been enrolled. Busia County administration has allocated Kshs. 15, 000 per every sitting student in the polytechnics. “We have a deficit of 1400 students to undertake free professional courses. There are those students who failed to sit for the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education exams and those who sat for the exams but failed to pursue their secondary education,” Chief Officer for vocational training Joel Barua said.
Speaking during the burial of Amagoro Primary School teacher Florence Adude, 45, in Amagoro, Teso North sub county Barua said the shortfall must be met by March 1st, 2018 if the recipients need to get technical skills for free.
The Chief Officer said the County Government is clearing the legislation issue with Nairobi before Kshs 62million meant for bursary “which has been the elephant in the room for a while” is released to the beneficiaries.
“From the end of this month it is going to be a different story. We shall release the funds to all learning institutions to bring to an end the saga that has dragged on for some time. The Members of the County Assembly have also allocated bursaries for students in their respective wards. Students have up to February 28 to return the forms before we start processing the payments,” he said.
Barua also disclosed that the County Government will commence the second tranche of employing ECDE teachers in 439 public primary schools across the country.
He said the death of four ECDE teachers in a month is a big blow to the teaching fraternity, adding that the County Government will replace those who have passed on.
Adude who died of liver cancer was the wife to Army officer Martin Papai of RTS Eldoret. She has left behind two sons. Teso North MP Oku Kaunya, was in attendance.