Governor asks parents to invest in their children’s education
Vihiga county governor Dr Wilber Ottichilo has asked parents to invest in the education of their children as one way of fighting poverty.
Ottichilo while addressing students and parents at Mbale High School when he gave out shopping and pocket money to over 350 students who are on the Vihiga county Governor’s Scholarship Programme said if children are academically empowered, they will be able to secure jobs and live better lives.
The governor said his administration is committed to scaling up levels of education in the county to ensure more students are sponsored to school and excel academically.
He said education is a right to all children as stipulated in the Sustainable Development Goal number four (SDG 4) adding that his Government will endeavour to ensure that bright and needy children access education.
He said the programme, which has now entered the third year will ensure that students are not only assisted to pay fees and have personal effects, but also guided through mentorship to choose career paths that are in tandem with their academic capabilities.
Ottichilo said moving forward, the programme will have an increased budgetary allocation to enable more needy students benefit from the kitty.
He confirmed that his administration has enrolled another 100 students from poor families who are also benefiting from the scholarship.
Ottichilo said his administration has secured the Governor’s Scholarship Programme through policy adding that the programme is now here to stay.
He challenged parents to give maximum support to the students for them to realise their goals.
Chief Officer for Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE) Pamela Mahila said she will put her best foot forward to ensure that the students are well mentored so that they can make informed and independent decisions in life.
She thanked the Governor Ottichilo for coming up with the Scholarship Programme, which she said goes a long way in reviving the hope to those who would have otherwise lost hope.
The Governor’s Scholarship Programme, that was launched in January 2019 has enrolled 350 students and has three cohorts so far; (Form One, Form Two and Form Three).
