Tension in schools as Free Day Secondary Education Faces Budget Cuts: The budget cuts in the Education sector will severely impact the school feeding program. The program has been crucial for learners in Arid and Semi-Arid Land (ASAL) counties and impoverished urban areas.
This program provides meals to encourage school retention and reduce dropouts. It received Sh3 billion in the 2023/2024 fiscal year. However, these funds have been shifted to the State Department of ASALs for 2024/2025.
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The budget for the feeding program remains unchanged
It is important to note that the budget for the feeding program remains unchanged. However, Kipsang argued that moving it to another department would disrupt its implementation and coordination with other education programs.
He pointed out that the program has an outstanding bill of Sh2.4 billion from the previous financial year. This will be the first charge in the current fiscal year. For greater effectiveness and efficiency, Kipsang urged the Julius Melly-led committee to return the funds to the State Department of Basic Education.
Free Day Senior Secondary School Program Under-funded
Additionally, budget cuts have resulted in a Sh12.76 billion shortfall for the Free Day Senior Secondary School program.
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The required cost per learner is Sh22,244, totaling Sh76.7 billion for the current fiscal year. However, only Sh63.88 billion has been allocated, reducing the capitation to Sh18,757 per learner.
Kipsang noted that mainta ining the full capitation of Sh22,244 would leave 1,381,100 learners unfunded in the third term of the 2024 academic year. Besides that, 372,270 learners will be unfunded in the first and second terms of the 2025 academic year.
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He requested an additional Sh12.76 billion to adequately fund the Free Day Senior Secondary School program.
Budget cuts affect many educational programs
These budget cuts jeopardize crucial educational programs. This greatly impacts the school feeding initiative and reducing capitation for secondary school learners. Urgent action is needed to ensure these programs receive the necessary funding to operate effectively.
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