Equity bank has commissioned more than ten thousand academically promising scholars from humble backgrounds who sat the 2020 KCPE examinations.
The beneficiaries will join the Wings to Fly and Elimu scholarship programs.
Equity group has so far offered comprehensive scholarships to over37, 000 scholars for the last eleven years.
The application and selection process saw Equity Group Foundation receive nearly 115, 000 scholarship applications.
The two scholarship programs offer comprehensive scholarships which cover the scholars’ tuition, books, uniform, transport costs and pocket money for the four-year period the scholars are in school.
So far, at least 86 percent of Wings to Fly scholarship programme by Equity Foundation beneficiaries who sat for the 2020 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) are set to join universities.
Speaking during the distribution of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) at Christamarianne Mission Hospital in Kisii town, Equity Group Chief Executive Officer Dr. James Mwangi said Equity Group had set aside Ksh.300 million to support students enrolled in the scholarship when their studies were disrupted due to COVID-19 last year.
“We gave each of the 17,000 students a sort of an allowance over the last 9 months when schools were closed. The girls received Ksh.4000 while the boys received Ksh.3500 and out of this initiative, all students resumed school and excelled in the KCSE exams,” said Dr. Mwangi.
The students received solar lamps, radios and phone chargers to support their learning at home and consult with their teachers.
Dr. Mwangi also lauded 15 students from Kisii High School who received scholarships from Equity Group last year for getting direct entries to universities.
“I want to thank board members from the Kisii County scholarship selection board for the commitment they have displayed over time,” he added.
Equity Group has supported over 600 students in Kisii County under the Wings to Fly scholarship programme and most of them have managed to get admission to universities.
