Top performing private schools may get funding from the Government if the Ministry of Education adopts a new international financing proposal. The new multi-billion education funding system will see private schools that produce best results rewarded through a comprehensive Government funding dubbed Education Outcome Fund (OED). OED is an initiative of International Commission on Financing Global Education Opportunity and the Global Steering Group for Impact Investment (GSG).
The programme projects to raise Sh100 billion to pay for ‘services’, which will be offered by private schools in Africa and the Middle East. Kenya is among the few countries earmarked for piloting of the project already rejected by Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut). Burkina Faso, Ghana, Jordan, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa and Zambia are also targeted in the first phase. Chad, Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Lebanon, Liberia, Palestine, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda and Zimbabwe will roll out the project under the second phase.
Under the programme, private schools will receive financing from bilateral donors through national aid budgets if they meet the outcomes targets. Knut has already cautioned Education Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohammed against adopting such initiative, saying children in public schools will be disadvantaged. “We urge you not to participate in this new education financing mechanism’s upcoming pilot,” reads a letter by Knut Secretary General Wilson Sossion.
