Mwala Awards: August 2011

Mwala fetes best

exams performers

By Anchor Reporter

The government is committed to ensuring all Kenyan children had access to education as part of the efforts to enhance national cohesion, development and equity.
 Public Service Permanent Secretary Mr. Titus Ndambuki has underscored the role of education in fostering respect and harmony among people and communities.  ‘’Education plays a critical role in personal development and is a key element in socio-economic development of societies which in turn brings about mutual respect, understanding, love, civilization among peoples of diverse cultures and origins,’’ ,’’ the PS remarked yesterday while presiding over the district education day in Mwala held at Makutano DEB primary school.

 The occasion was also graced by the Education Secretary Professor George Godia, local Member of Parliament Mr. Daniel Muoki and District Commissioner Ms Florence Amoit where students and schools which topped in last years KCPE and KCSE examinations were feted.
 ‘’Education is key to peace, democratic stability, avenue for good jobs, economic growth and good health,’’ the PS went on in a written speech and urged parents to take the responsibility of educating their children seriously.
 He said it was for the above reasons that the government continued to accord priority attention to education with regard to the national development policy citing the vision 2030, the millennium development goals and the right to education emphasized in the new constitution as examples.
 He said introduction of the free primary education and free day secondary education exhibited government committed to support the development of education in the country.
 ‘’The allocation of massive resources to the sector is also a pointer to the government serious of ensuring all Kenyans had access to quality education,’’ the PS noted citing the case of Mwala district which he said was allocated a total of Sh 99, 730,719 million between January-may, 2011 for free primary and day secondary education, emergency school feeding programs, Constituency Bursary Fund, the ICT-computer for schools project and other infrastructural development.
 He said the whole of Eastern province was allocated about one billion shillings by the government for the projects with Mwala district being one of the major beneficiaries for being apportioned 10 percent of the whole amount.
 Mr. Ndambuki challenged managers of school funds to ensure resources allocated to cater for school projects were prudently utilized for the benefit of learners.
 He challenged parents, the teaching fraternity and members of school management committees to pay keen attention to factors that contribute to indiscipline in the learning environment and especially the abuse of drugs by students.
 
‘’Drug abuse continues to pose a serious challenge in our society and it is incumbent upon educators and parents to identify effective prevention measures to eliminate the vice from learning institutions,’’ the PS advised citing educating children on the dangers of drugs abuse and teaching them general personal and social skills to overcome the evil as the most viable preventive approach.
 He urged parents to support the government’s effort in providing quality education to their children by ensuring they paid school fees on time and chip in the provision of required facilities.
 On his part Prof Godia said the government through the ministry of education was committee to providing all Kenyan children of school going age with quality education irrespective of their economic, religious and social status.
  ‘’The government appreciates that education is a human right and a powerful tool for national development,’’   remarked the official.
  Mr. Muoki said Sh 33 million from the Constituency Development Fund was channeled towards education projects last year marking 54 percent of the total budget. It is unclear how much value can be traced on the ground for this proportion of funds.
 He advised students in the district to take advantage of the free primary and free day secondary education programs sponsored by the state to boost literacy levels in the district.
Ms Amoit said the government was keen to ensure schools and residents affected by the drought are cushioned against suffering.
Between January and may this year, the government had disbursed more than Sh 17 million to cater for the emergency school feeding program for all the 189 primary schools in the district, according to the district education officer Ms Rose Sagara.
Three girls and three boys who topped in last years Kenya certificate of primary education examination were given cash awards, trophies and certificates for exemplary performance.
  They were Mercy Mwende formerly of Masii Township Primary School who had 404 marks, Wayua Muli of St Joseph’s Academy [Mbiuni] who had similar score and Syombua Mbuvi of the same academy who scored 403 marks. In the boys category were Mumo Mutonye of Kalia Kundu and Mwako Nzyoki and Wambua Kioko both of St Joseph’s academy who led with 412, 407 and 404 marks respectively.
 Ms Jackline Muthenya, Patrick Wambua and Hellen Kimiti of st Joseph ’s academy were among the teachers honored for their best performance in English. Others were Catherine Musyoka of Mithini ABC[Kiswahili], Isaac Kyalo of Kalia Kundu [Maths], Sabina Wambua of Mithini [science] and Dina Kiminza of Masii Township [Social Studies]