Clock ticks for parents to register learners to SHIF

Basic Education PS Belio Kipsang. [File, Kipsang]

All school-going children have three days to register for the new medical cover under the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF).

This means that parents have a short time to comply with Ministry of Education directive contained in a circular by Basic Education PS Bellio Kipsang, dated August 16.

The national parents association, however decried the short listing. “As much as we applaud the government for the reintroduction of medical cover for learners in schools, we request for an extension for registration,” said National Parents Association chairman, Silas Obuhatsa.

He said most of the areas in the country are remote and not accessible to most parents. “Most parents are struggling to return learners to schools next week, and this means that we shall need more time for registration,” said Obuhatsa.

The circular instructs regional and county education directors to ensure that all parents register their children as dependents under SHIF before the new school term begins.

“All school-going children are therefore required to register as dependents of their parents before school opening dates for the third term of 2024,” said Dr. Kipsang.

This comes eight months since the State discontinued the former EduAfya health cover that took care of medical cover for students in secondary schools. There has been an uproar with schools raising complain that the burden had been shifted to parents and institutions when students fall sick.

The stated communication referenced as MOE/HQS/3/13/3 and marked as urgent further directed that this information be swiftly communicated to all schools and parents.

The circular states that the initiative is part of the government’s broader commitment to implementing SHIF, which seeks to provide free healthcare for all Kenyans from birth until the age of 18.

The Ministry of Health, through the State Department for Medical Services and the Social Health Authority, has introduced an enhanced benefit package for the Edu Afya scheme, now incorporated into SHIF.

“It is therefore to ask you to communicate this information to all parents and schools under your purview that they ensure all students are registered to the Social Health Insurance Fund,” Kipsang said.

The directive aligns with Section 26 of the Social Health Insurance Act No. 16 of 2023, which mandates that every Kenyan, including children, register as members of SHIF. “The Social Health Insurance Act No. 16 of 2023 was enacted on October 19, 2023, and commenced on November 22, 2023. Section 26 of the Act provides that every Kenyan including children must register as members of the Social Health Insurance Fund,” the circular further explained.

Registration for SHIF has been ongoing since July 1, 2024, and parents can complete the process through several channels, including the official SHIF website, SMS by dialing “147#”, or through the Afyangu portal.