ASAL schools to benefit from aid – official

The government has said it will continue putting in place interventions to address challenges facing public schools and learners in Arid and semi-arid areas (ASAL).

The Kenya Primary Education Development (PRIEDE) project National Coordinator Martha Ekirapa said this is aimed at attracting and retaining learners in school.

She cited scholarships, school feeding programme and improvement of school infrastructure as main interventions that the government has put in place to attract and maintain learners in school.

“Elimu scholarship is a government programme, which has been running for a while to ensure that all eligible learners are supported to continue with their education, while improved school infrastructure will ensure safety of school children,” said Ekirapa, who was speaking in Maralal Boys, Samburu County.

Saying that the Elimu scholarship currently supports over 25,000 learners across the country, Ekirapa urged beneficiaries to utilize the programme to improve themselves, their families and the society.

Ekirapa made the remarks after visiting schools in Samburu Central. She was accompanied by World Bank and Global Partnership in Education (GPE) who are co-financing a new programme dubbed Kenya Primary Education Equity in Learning programme (KPEEL).