The County Government of Bomet through the department of Education and Vocational Training on Thursday, Jan 11, awarded full scholarship to 250 students joining form one and 625 trainees who just enrolled in the 33 Vocational Training Colleges in the county.
The 250 students joining form one are mainly bright and needy students who excelled in KCPE, last year. The full scholarship program has been running since 2015 and covers the cost of the entire four-year secondary education.
Initially, the program benefited 4 students in each of the 25 wards in the county, a number that was raised to 10 per ward in the year 2019 to benefit more bright students from needy backgrounds.
In his address, Bomet Governor Prof Hillary Barchok congratulated the beneficiaries for posting excellent results despite the challenging backgrounds they come from.
“This program aims to empower brilliant and hardworking students like you so that your future can be better than your today,” Governor Barchok told the beneficiaries who were accompanied by their parents and guardians for the colorful event which was held at the Bomet Green Stadium.
“This year, we have set aside Kshs 141M for this program out of which Kshs 116M will cater for Secondary School Full and Partial scholarship programs while Kshs 25M will cater for VTCs full and partial scholarship programs,” Prof Barchok added.
The event had three special guests who previously benefited from the full scholarship program in Emmanuel Kipkirui of Kamungei Secondary School who scored an A, Sandyabel Kibet of Baringo High School and Enock Kipyegon, both of whom attained a mean grade of A- in the recently released KCSE results. The three were beneficiaries of the scholarship program by the County, KCPE class of 2019. They were gifted by the governor alongside 5 others, in absentia, who also scored A minuses.
Ms Agnes Ngeno, the CECM for Education, Youth, Sports and Vocational Training urged the beneficiaries to work hard in secondary school as a way of repaying the efforts by the County Government in educating them and changing the fortunes of their families.
On his part, the chief officer for Education and Vocational Training, Dr John Keter, reaffirmed the commitment of the department in improving vocational training in the county in a bid to raise the number of skilled workers graduating from the VTCs, a demand that’s currently under supply.
Among the guests who graced the event were Kericho Governor Dr Eric Mutai, Bomet County Assembly Speaker Hon Cosmas Korir, County Commissioner’s representative Mr Kitili and a host of MCA’s. Also in attendance were the Deputy Governor Hon Shadrack Rotich, County Secretary Mr Simion Langat, CECMs and Chief officers among other senior county officers.
