7,000 Teso North students to benefit from Sh80 million NG-CDF bursaries

Chiefs help in registration of bursary applicants from their locations at Malama Sports Complex Stadium, Teso North constituency, on Friday  /HILTON OTENYO

More than 7,000 students in secondary schools, tertiary colleges and universities in Teso North constituency are set to benefit from Sh80 million National Government–Constituencies Development Fund education bursaries this year.

Issuance of application forms started on January 5, and successful applicants will receive their cheques by end of February.

Teso North NG-CDF bursary committee chairman William Okalio said tertiary colleges and university students will receive double disbursements to cover two academic years.

“University and tertiary students did not receive bursaries last year, so they will benefit twice this financial year,” he said.

Okalio spoke during the issuance of bursary application forms at Malaba Sports Complex on Friday.

Some 8,000 secondary school students benefited from education bursaries last year.

The overall number of beneficiaries dropped to 7,000 this year due to the absence of Form 2 students, following the transition to the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).

Okalio said Sh1.5 million has also been set aside for the support of education for persons with disabilities (PWDs) in various learning institutions.

He said 53 students have undergone training in specialised courses, including medicine, law and engineering, while more than 400 students have been trained in nursing since 2017.

Deputy fund manager Mary Ekudam praised MP Oku Kaunya’s commitment to education, saying the bursary programme has transformed lives since 2017.

“Kaunya has consistently upheld the sanctity of human life by ensuring every child is supported to access education,” she said.

Bishop Joel Imaidoi, who represents the Public Service Commission on the NG-CDF board and serves as an accountant, said learners from vulnerable families were the main beneficiaries of the programme.

Amagoro resident Pius Etyang urged the government to introduce lunch programmes for Grade 9 learners.

Resident Isaac Papa urged the MP to ignore critics and continue supporting education.

“Social media cannot take children to school or put food on the table. The MP is working to eliminate poverty in our community,” he said.