Over seven thousand students from Awendo constituency Migori County have received bursaries from the National Government-Constituency Development Funds (NG-CDF).
Speaking during the issuance of the bursary worth Sh 50.5 million to over seven thousand needy students, Awendo Member of Parliament Walter Owino said that the bursary will ensure the needy students get a chance to advance their education careers.
Owino however, pointed out that although the system to award bursaries from the NG-CDF has over time helped needy students’ access education, he was of the opinion that the surest way to help the nation’s education system was to make education free.
‘We had more than eleven thousand applicants for the bursary but our NG-CDF could only cater for the seven thousand. The government needs to prioritise free education to give each child in Kenya a chance to better their education,’ lamented Owino.
The legislature disclosed that they will be lobbying the government to fully take care of the entire education c
ost to help keep needy children in school.
Simeon Makawa, a parent from Awendo Sub County explained that the cost of education for orphans, needy and vulnerable children can become unbearable if they do not get the bursaries.
He called on well-wishers to help support the less privileged children to make society a better place.
Source: Kenya News Agency
A total of 557 cases of child abuse have been reported in the Oshikoto Region between 01 January to 18 March 2024.
This was confirmed by the Head of the Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare Division at the Oshikoto Regional Council, Petrus Kuutondokwa, on Tuesday during the Child Care Protection Forum meeting held at Omuthiya.
He said the reported abuse include sexual, physical, emotional abuse and neglect.
The Oshikoto Regional Council chairperson, Samuel Shivute has encouraged residents of Oshikoto to start reporting violence against children and other pressing issues committed against them to relevant authorities.
He said that children should be protected against any forms of harm, exploitation and discrimination.
‘We also have alcohol and drug abuse by children and a high rate of children committing crimes in the region,’ said Shivute, further lamenting a high prevalence of teenage pregnancies in the region.
The Namibian Police Force representative at the meeting, Melchizedek Hang
o, urged the nation to go to the police station or the hospital to formalise and tackle the issue of child abuse.
‘The members of the public should call any member of the gender-based violence police to meet in person because police intervention can be your priority because it is a lifesaving measure,’ said Hango.
Hango further added that they can help the survivors to get connected to other resources such as legal services, psychologists and shelters, among others.
The objective of the forum was to strengthen coordination amongst the stakeholders regarding child care and protection issues, as well as raise awareness regarding child welfare services.
Source: The Namibia Press Agency