Kenya: Equity Bank Supports 2140 Needy Students
By Staff Writer
NAIROBI---Following the release of last year’s Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) results, 2140 needy candidates are set to enjoy fully paid secondary school scholarships courtesy of the Equity Bank Group Foundation.
Under the Wings to Fly programme launched earlier last year by President Mwai Kibaki, Equity Bank, Equity Group Foundation and The MasterCard Foundation with support from USAID will offer comprehensive scholarships across the country to children from needy backgrounds who have attained 350 marks and above in last year’s KCPE examinations.
Speaking as part of his New Year goodwill message, Equity Bank Group Managing Director Dr. James Mwangi confirmed that deserving students from needy family backgrounds countrywide are encouraged to apply for the scholarships.
The Equity Bank boss who also chairs the Equity Group Foundation appealed to members of the public to widely share this information to ensure that all deserving and eligible
children get the chance to apply for the comprehensive secondary school scholarships.
The Wings to Fly education scholarship and leadership development programme, Dr Mwangi explained covers tuition, books, uniforms and pocket money for students who are academically gifted yet economically and socially marginalized.
“Needy candidates, who have scored 350 marks and above in last year’s KCPE are invited to present themselves to the nearest Equity Bank branch or Equity Bank
Agents from tomorrow where they will collect application forms,” Dr. Mwangi explained, adding: “Students should carry their results slips or a letter from their head teacher as evidence of their score in order to be issued with the application forms. Only very needy children who will score 350 marks and above, and who, without the scholarship would not be able to join form one will be eligible to apply.”
Upon application, shortlisted students will subsequently be invited for oral interviews that will be conducted by the Equity Group Foundation District Scholarship Selection Board.
Following the Wings to Fly launch early in January last year, more than 1200 students who sat for their KCPE in 2010 managed to access the comprehensive scholarships. Of the current 1200 Wings to Fly scholars, 400 attend national schools while more than 800 attend provincial schools countrywide.
“This is part of our scholarship initiative to assist 10,000 deserving students to go through secondary school education. We appeal to all members of the public to share this information widely to ensure that all deserving and eligible children get the chance to apply for these scholarships,” said Dr. Mwangi.
The Wings to Fly Programme is an initiative of Equity Group Foundation and The MasterCard Foundation with support of UKaid and USAID.