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.