Busia County education CEC Beatrice Nakholi(middle)during the training Busia County education CEC Beatrice Nakholi(middle)during the training. Photo by Godfrey Wamalwa

Newly appointed members of Busia County’s Education Support Scheme Committees have undergone induction training aimed at tightening oversight of bursaries, scholarships, and education loans.

The training, spearheaded by the Department of Education and Industrial Skills Development, focused on bursary application and disbursement processes, scholarship management, eligibility criteria, record-keeping, and the governance roles of ward and county committees.

During the training, the County Executive Committee Member for Education Beatrice Nakholi, challenged the trainees to maintain integrity in managing the funds to change the lives of beneficiaries.

“This program is at the heart of our county’s commitment in ensuring equitable access to education. Committee members must uphold the highest standards of transparency, accountability, and fairness as they vet and approve applications across wards,” she said.

The Busia County Education Support Scheme, created under the 2017 Act and reinforced by 2020 regulations, provides financial assistance in the form of bursaries, revolving loans, and vocational training grants to needy students.

During the session, committee members reviewed reports and held discussions on how to improve the efficiency of the support system.

The trainees praised Governor Paul Otuoma’s push for youth empowerment, citing his partnerships with the KCB Foundation’s 2jiajiri program and the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB). They also lauded his scholarship program, which is currently funding 95 secondary school students in Form Three.

Education officials said the initiative underscores the county’s broader goal of reducing barriers to education and investing in the future of its young people.