Row rages as new curriculum faces hitch over funding gap

The Ministry of Education has listed key areas that need immediate funding in the next financial year.

Competency Based Curriculum (CBC), which has been rejected by a teachers’ union, ranks top of the funding priority of the ministry.

National Assembly Education Committee last week approved Sh2.4 billion to cater for CBC rollout.

The money will cater for training of CBC curriculum implementers and construction of laboratories, among other activities.

Documents tabled in Parliament shows that the ministry requested for an immediate Sh466 million to cater for uploading of digital content for Digital Literacy Programme (DLP) and CBC.

Also ranking high on the ministry’s priority list is Free Primary Education cash.

Urgent

The ministry says it needs an urgent Sh13 billion to cater for capitation for the primary school learners. It has also listed Sh59 billion for free secondary education.

Another Sh300 million has been listed among priority funding items to cater for improvement of infrastructure facilities in public primary schools.

Another Sh1.2 billion will go towards improvement of secondary school infrastructure.

Examination fees of Sh4 billion have also been highlighted. This will cater for all candidates listed to sit Standard Eight and Form Four national examinations.

The ministry has also highlighted Sh655 million for special needs education.

The details emerged during a two-day meeting last week between Ministry of Education top officials and the Education Committee chaired by Tinderet MP Julius Melly.

Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha led the team to the meeting that took place in a city hotel. Teachers Service Commission (TSC) Chief Executive Officer Nancy Macharia was also present.

The ministry pointed out a Sh10.5 billion gap that it says must be plugged.

If not addressed, Basic Education PS Belio Kipsang told MPs that some 350,000 learners may not be funded. Dr Kipsang said the ministry needs an additional Sh7.7 billion to cater for these children.

He said the Free Day Secondary School capitation is Sh59.4 billion, but cited the deficit.

It also emerged that many children may drop out of school if the MPs fail to approve an additional Sh500 million towards the feeding programme.

Ministry documents show that Sh1.8 billion is needed to cater for the food programme for primary schoolchildren in marginalised areas.

Kipsang told MPs that cutting the budget will negatively affect access, retention and transition of children in marginalised and vulnerable areas of the country.

The two are among four issues the PS flagged out in the 2019/20 budget.

Increased enrolment

Kipsang also said another Sh1.7 billion gap exists in the provision of infrastructure in schools.

The PS said 100 per cent transition has increased the target enrolment of schools, hence the need to expand infrastructural facilities to reduce congestion in public institutions.

“To urgently address this need, the State Department requires Sh2.9 billion in the 2019/20 financial year,” said Kipsang.

Only Sh1.2 billion has been allocated, according to the PS.

Also listed with a budget has is the Kenya Primary Education Development Project.

The PS said some Sh566 million is needed to cater for ongoing contracts and to facilitate outstanding activities in the work plan.

MPs heard that the project had been under implementation since 2015 and is coming to an end this month.

“However, it will have a grace period of four months in line with the Financing Agreement from June 28 to October 30, 2019,” Kipsang said.  

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