www.Kisii.Com: Syndicated news from only reputable sources [Nation, and Standard Newspapers, Kenya Times, KBC, etc.]

Set up bursary teams, MPs told

Details

Published on Thursday, 10 July 2008 01:19

Members of Parliament should  set up new constituency bursary committees for quick disbursement of funds to needy students, the Education minister has said.

Prof Ongeri.

Bursary funds have not been sent to needy students for the last six months because a number of newly-elected MPs demanded that the committees they found in office should be disbanded.

Speaking at Sironga Girls during the Nyamira District Education Day, the minister said he had issued new guidelines on the disbursement of the funds.

Present during the function were Public Health and Sanitation assistant minister  James Gesami, North Mugirango MP Wilfred Ombui, Nyanza provincial director of education Geoffrey Cherongis and  district commissioner Ali Muktar.

“As patrons of the fund, MPs should have people they trust in the committees since they will be held accountable by their constituents in case of misuse,” said the Nyaribari Masaba MP.

However, the minister warned against the misconception that the bursary issue was being politicised.

Prof Ongeri told school boards and management committees to monitor spending of funds allocated for infrastructural development.

The minister warned that inefficient boards would be degazetted and spoke against the culture of members going to schools merely to sign for allowances.

Work together

He was concerned by unrest in schools, especially in Gusii and asked the police to liaise with education officers to find the root cause of the riots.

At the same time, the minister asked sponsors to keep off the day-to-day running of schools and concentrate on spiritual nourishment of students.

Dr Gesami and Mr Ombui said Gusii MPs were concerned with the declining education standards in the area and said they had agreed to work together to improve them.