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Heads of schools have found themselves on the horns of dilemma after bright but needy students reported for Form One with fees and other essentials.

The school heads have been forced to admit the students, some of whom turned up bare feet with only admission letters in their hands.

Having arrived in schools, the teachers have been faced with the painful decision of whether to send the children back to their homes or accommodate them in the hope that they will find sponsors.

The problem is compounded by delay in the release of capitation fees by the Treasury despite repeated promises.

In the latest incident, a bright but needy young boy has warmed the heart of Kenyans after he walked to Kabarnet High School in Baringo county last week, without any shopping or fees seeking to be admitted.
Armed with his admission letter only, a desperate Edmond Kiprono, 12, clad in the uniform of his former primary school, Kapropita, strolled confidently into the school’s gates seeking to plead his case.

Free scholarship

This happened as other students from well to do families came for admission in cars and their new boxes.
However, this did not dampen young Kiprono’s thirst for knowledge which touched the school’s administration which has admitted him to school for four-year free scholarship.

Kabarnet High School Senior Principal Julius Ndirangu told People Daily that he was touched by the boy’s determination against all odds.

“I was touched by his determination despite his poor background and we have offered him a scholarship. I know there are thousands of other students in similar circumstances. They should be spotted and assisted. I’ve worked as a principal for many years and what I’ve discovered is that we should assist others,” said Ndirangu.

Ndirangu is currently leading a campaign targeting all principals in a bid to assist students from humble backgrounds achieve their academic dreams without dropping out of school due to lack of fees.

“We should ensure that people who are able differently are assisted to continue with their studies even as schools we are struggling financially. If we change their lives, we will get change in the community,” the senior principal said.

“We are the bridge that can connect people with their destiny. They will one day change the community where they come from and they should be assisted,” he added.

He said he recognised the youngster’s potential and made the compassionate decision to assist him.
Ndirangu is not alone.

In the last one week, his counterpart at Ng’iya Girls High School in Siaya county, Hellen Juma has been forced to make the difficult but magnanimous decision of admitting destitute students who report without any requirement in order to save them from sliding into oblivion.

According to Juma, so far, four girls have been admitted to the institution with nothing but hope that all will be well and well-wishers will come forward to help cater for their educational needs.

“I now have four girls in school who need support. Some came with nothing and I could not send them back home because that could have been the end of their journey in school. I appeal for well-wishers and other organisations to help these students access education,” the Principal said.

Pleaded for support

Among the latest to be admitted is Frazier Anyango Odhiambo, a former pupil at St Teresa primary school in Busia town who trooped into the school with only a bag and ten exercise books.

Accompanied by her mother, the young girl pleaded for support to enable her join the school she was selected to join after scoring 378 marks in last year’s Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examination.

“My mother has tried everything but in vain. The little she gets from washing clothes for people can only buy us food that we even miss occasionally,” she said while trying to hold back tears.

Her mother, Wendy Onyango said she was forced to plead with a neighbour to lend her fare to Siaya to take Frazier to Ng’iya following persistent questions from her daughter whether she will join Form One or not.

“I was forced to come with her despite lacking the requirements as she has been persistently pestering me with the question,” she said.

Wendy, a single mother of three says that she does menial jobs like washing clothes for people and many are times that she goes without any job.

She says that she applied for various scholarships without success and the closest they came was when Elimu Scholarship invited Frazier for an interview.

According to the principal, Frazier reported that without the requirements and the school has to look at how it will assist her.

“The way I look at this parent’s situation, if I allow this girl to go back and come with even a fraction of the requirements, this will be her last time here or even in any educational institution,” said the principal.
The principal said that the school will provide the girl with a uniform while she will buy her shoes as an individual.

Juma says that Frazier joins the list of other girls, among them Gloria Adhiambo Owino who had earlier been placed at Lenana School after managing 389 marks and was also from a very humble background.

She says that though some well-wishers, among them Alego–Usonga member of parliament Samuel Atandi has so far come to the aid of Gloria, there was need for more support to enable the girls from poor backgrounds to continue with their education.

Needy students

“There are also three others whom we have managed to assist in one way or the other,” said the principal.
The school heads are forced to admit these bright but needy students even as schools continue to grapple with serious financial challenges, ranging from low capitation to poor and inadequate infrastructure to cater for the learners.

Meanwhile, the Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (KESSHA) is now pleading with the government to either release all the funds for capitation to facilitate smooth learning or they would be forced to resort to other means to raise funds, including increasing school fees.

Should the situation completely get out of hand, the head teachers warned, they would not hesitate to close the institutions earlier than scheduled.

The association says each learner has only been allocated Sh 4,000in the funds recently disbursed by the government instead of the promised Sh10,000.

This, KESSHA says, is despite the fact that the government still owes schools a balance of Sh12,000 carried over from last year’s disbursement.