Budgetary Allocation For Education Sector Increased. Members of the National Assembly restored significant funding for critical education sectors after it had been sharply reduced by Sh23.1 billion as a result of proposed austerity measures.
In the fiscal year 2024–2025, the Budget and Appropriations Committee, led by Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro, reduced the entire budget by Sh10.1 billion, from Sh156.4 billion to Sh146.3 billion.
In spite of these reductions, significant areas including junior secondary school (JSS), free day secondary education, and free basic education have been spared from rationalization, according to a report turned in on Tuesday by member of the Budget and Appropriations Committee Peter Masara..
Unlike the previous proposal, which called for a cut of Sh14.93 billion, the revised move would see an increase in the Basic Education budget of Sh14.3 billion to Sh131.2 billion.
Included in this increase are Sh2.4 billion for free day secondary education and Sh11.98 billion for free elementary education.
Over 3.5 million Form Four, Sixth Grade, and Third Grade pupils will take national exams and evaluations with funds allocated of Sh5 billion.
Budgetary Allocation For Education Sector Increased
This includes Sh1.9 billion for the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) and Sh3.1 billion for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE).
The report states that the proposed reduction in recurrent expenditure is made up of Sh1.7 billion for student sponsorships at private universities.
Sh5 billion from basic education for the examination waiver for the national examinations of primary and secondary schools, and Sh10 billion from the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) for the implementation of the collective bargaining agreement (CBA).
Allocation for teacher management resources
An additional Sh29.5 billion will be given to the TSC for the management of teacher resources, of which Sh17.6 billion will be used to transform 46,000 intern teachers into permanent and pensionable positions. Teachers’ medical coverage will be funded with Sh11.9 billion.
“The people asked the National Assembly to ringfence the JSS allocation, which was suggested by the TSC. He stated, “The committee is committed to improving the current allocation for hiring JSS intern teachers in FY 2024/25 and notes the public’s concern.”
Nancy Macharia, the chief executive officer of TSC, emphasised that teachers will lose their medical benefits, including Work Injury Benefits Act (Wiba) and group life and personal accident coverage, in the absence of sufficient funds. Beginning on December 1, the third year of the teachers’ medical contract will come with a price tag of Sh20.6 billion.
Furthermore, an additional Sh1.15 billion would be added to the Higher Education and Research budget, making it Sh120.4 billion.
A portion of the study stated, “The public had proposed reinstating allocations for the State Department for Higher Education and Research to its FY 2024/25 levels, including a proposed Sh10 billion for the EduAfya program.”
Prior to this, the Universities Fund (UF) for scholarships was to see a Sh2.6 billion drop from its original Sh19.6 billion, while the Higher Education Loans Board (Helb) was to see a Sh710 million budget cut.
Government Helb Support
In an appearance before the National Assembly Committee on Education, which was presided over by Tinderet MP Julius Melly, Higher Education Principal Secretary Dr. Beatrice Inyangala issued a warning last week, stating that these cuts would make it more difficult for 153,292 students to get government support.
As a result of the reduction in government financing for students under Helb and the UF, Inyangala claims that “many first-year students are inadequately funded.”
The committee also recommended funding the school food program in order to support ongoing initiatives to mitigate detrimental effects on economic stability, nutrition, and school attendance.
Budgetary Allocation For Education Sector Increased