Ray Of Hope For Education Sector as MPs Reinstate Budgetary Allocation

Ray Of Hope For Education Sector as MPs Reinstate Budgetary Allocation

Important funding for important education sectors was restored by National Assembly members after it was drastically cut by Sh23.1 billion as a result of suggested austerity measures.

The whole budget for the fiscal year 2024–2025 was cut down by Sh10.1 billion, from Sh156.4 billion to Sh146.3 billion, by the Budget and Appropriations Committee, which was chaired by Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro.

According to a report submitted on Tuesday by Budget and Appropriations Committee member Peter Masara, important areas such as free day secondary education, free primary education, and Junior Secondary School (JSS) have been spared from rationalisation despite these cuts.

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.

Amounts of Sh5 billion have been set aside to administer national exams and evaluations to over 3.5 million students enrolled in Form Four, Sixth Grade, and Third Grade. This comprises Sh3.1 billion for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) and Sh1.9 billion for the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA).

According to the report, “the proposed reduction in recurrent expenditure comprises Sh10 billion from the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) for the implementation of the collective bargaining agreement (CBA), Sh5 billion from basic education for the examination waiver for the national examinations of primary and secondary schools, and Sh1.7 billion for student sponsorships at private universities.”

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.

Higher Education Principal Secretary Dr. Beatrice Inyangala issued a warning last week during her appearance before the National Assembly Committee on Education, which was chaired by Tinderet MP Julius Melly, stating that these cuts would make it more difficult for 153,292 students to get government support. According to Inyangala, “many first-year students are inadequately funded as a result of government funding for students under Helb and the UF being reduced.”

In order to support ongoing activities to lessen negative effects on school attendance, nutrition, and economic stability, the committee also suggested financing the school food program.

Ray Of Hope For Education Sector as MPs Reinstate Budgetary Allocation