1,136 Top Performing Students in KCPE awarded Wings to Fly Scholarships/Courtesy
NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 3 – Equity Group Foundation has offered 223 students internship positions after they performed well during the 2019 Kenya Certificate Secondary Examination (KCSE).
The Foundation Chairman James Mwangi said the interns can work at Equity Bank from January 20, before they join university.
Mwangi made the announcement as he commended the Wings to Fly Class of 2016, (who sat for their national exams), for producing 24 A’s and 199 A-‘s in 2019.
The Chairman said the interns who will be earning a salary of Sh40,000 per month will be able to sustain themselves as they join respective universities,” he said.
In a speech read on his behalf by Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha, President Uhuru Kenyatta highlighted how the program has been impactful and transformative for many bright but needy students in Kenya.
“This year, we are looking at having 100 scholars gain admission to Global Universities,” Mwangi stated
This year marks the 11th intake since the inception of the Wings to Fly scholarship program, bringing the total number of scholars admitted to the program to 17,304.
The head of state noted the performance of scholars in secondary schools has continued to improve, as per the 2019 KCSE results, 81 per cent of the 2016 class obtained university qualifying grades compared to an a national average of 18.1 per cent.
At the same time, Mwangi announced the admission of 1,136 students to join the program for the class of 2020.
The scholarship beneficiaries will receive comprehensive secondary school sponsorship to join various schools across the country.
The Equity Group Foundation Chairman further urged students to work hard to make it easy for their parents and guardians.
Magoha praised the programme noting how it had complemented the government effort in achieving maximum transition rate to secondary school.
“We have good reasons to be optimistic that we are building a great country and future leaders when bright students who are vulnerable are given such opportunities to pursue their dreams and goals,” said the President.
Equity Group Foundation Executive Chairman James Mwangi urged the students to work hard and secure the scholarships and advised them to optimize the opportunity presented to them for the benefit of their families, community and country at large.
“We will walk with you throughout your secondary school. Make the best use of this opportunity and study hard to make your family and the community proud. In four years’ time we want to celebrate because of how well you will have performed. Your predecessors have continued to do well and we trust you will emulate them,” he said.
The German Government, through KfW bank, has been partnering with Equity to enable scholars to join Technical Vocational Education and Training Institutions TVET and acquire the relevant technical skills necessary to grow their careers.
Since inception, scholars in the Wings to Fly program continue to excel maintaining a 96 per cent secondary school completion rate and 82 per cent attaining university entry qualification grades.
