Abstract

This study sought to find out the opinion of the head teachers on equity of the established criteria in
bursary support for the needy. It was done in the District’s 27 secondary schools with the total student
enrolment of 5780. All the 190 students (3.3% of the total enrolment) who had received bursaries from
1999 - 2002 in the district were included in the study. Another saturated sample of 27 head teachers was
included in the study. Data was collected using questionnaires, in-depth interview schedules and
document analysis. The study used Lorenz curves and Gini coefficients to measure equity in bursary
distribution. Findings show that bursary allocations in the district were inequitably distributed for all the
years studied. It further reveals that the bursary award criteria were largely not effective in identifying and
benefiting the most needy students. It recommended that there is need to review the criteria for the
selection of the students with financial need. The study further recommends mounting of workshops and
seminars for stakeholders to educate those in charge of disbursements on key items within the
disbursement process so as to eliminate ambiguities in the criteria.
 
Key words: Access to secondary school education, equity, bursary, Lorenz curve, Gini coefficient.