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Education stakeholders in Migori county have complained that far fewer girls are benefiting from bursaries funds than boys despite concerted efforts for equity.
Fewer girls apply and meet threshold to benefit for funds from national and county kitties, private organisations and individuals.
Stakeholders were speaking on Thursday at Migori High School where 198 bright and needy students benefited from the Equity Wings to Fly Foundation in Migori.
Migori Governor Okoth Obado said girls who benefit from any bursary kitty should strive to inspire other girls to work hard in their education to obtain bursaries.
“We still have a serious challenge with our girls in reaching the gender education equity as in most cases there are more boys than girls as beneficiaries,” Obado said.
He said fewer girls are rewarded by the county government-funded Elimu Kwa Wananchi programme which often offers full scholarship to beneficiaries who join Form 1 through their college and university education.
The governor said in 2017 out of 194 beneficiaries across all 40 wards in Migori, only 37 were girls. In 2018 and 2019 when bursary beneficiaries numbered 400, there were only 126 girls.
“The problem has been seen across other bursary kitties. We need to encourage girls to rise to the occasion and reach targets as education is key for both genders," Obado said.
Eunice Bosco, the Knut secretary general, said the fewer beneficiaries have been further hampered by Covid-19. The long school break meant more girls got pregnant and dropped out of school.
“We need more funds and special needs allocated to girls to give equity to education and level the playing field for both genders,” she said.
(Edited by V. Graham)