Job Losses and Budget Cuts to Come with Implementation of CBC in Secondary Schools: Government budget cuts and staff layoffs may be in store for Kenya’s over 10,000 secondary schools. Kenya is preparing for a massive reform that will alter the national curriculum.
In a recent decision, the Ministry of Education did not approve of transferring the last group of junior school students (Grade 9) to secondary schools.
Job Losses and Budget Cuts to Come with Implementation of CBC
Schools that have many employees with few students may have to lay off some people. This includes teachers and support staff who are under contract with the Board of Management (BOM). This is according to Collins Oyuu, Secretary General of the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT).
There will have to be a major reorganization of secondary schools because of the predicted decline in student enrollment. Over one million learners will be taking the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exam in 2024.
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The number of learners is expected to drop significantly
There are 4.2 million secondary school students enrolled as of right now. However, that number is expected to drop to about 3.3 million when classes resume next year. This is according to statistics provided to Parliament by the Ministry of Education.
The Principal Secretary of Basic Education, Dr. Belio Kipsang, highlighted the expected effects of these changes. He noted that fewer students enrolled in high school would help alleviate budget gaps.
The Ministry of Education is facing a gap of Sh22 billion. That is why it has reduced capitation from Sh22,224 to about Sh17,000.
The budget issue to resolve itself
Nevertheless, the principal secretary forecasted that the secondary school financial issue would be reduced to around Sh11 billion. This will happen once the 2024 KCSE candidates leave. There will be no Form One class in 2025.
After consulting with the Education Committee, Dr. Kipsang announced that the remaining shortfall will be addressed in the 2024–2025 budget allocation.
However, there will be financial concerns due to the declining student population. This is because capitation, the government’s funding mechanism for schools, is directly proportional to enrollment. Therefore, a large drop in enrollment could lead to a substantial drop in revenue.
KUPPET urges the Government to maintain funding
“For secondary schools to remain operational after this year’s candidates have departed, the government has to maintain funding,” emphasized Akello Misori, the secretary general of the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET).
Misori expressed hope that the decrease in the student population could alleviate Kenya’s chronic teacher shortage, notwithstanding the fact that there may be financial constraints.
But he warned that this development might cause layoffs. KNUT’s secretary general said that certain schools may have to lay off workers because of the recent surge in enrollment.
National Parents Association chair Silas Obuhatsa predicts a dramatic decrease in secondary school enrollment. He said this may result in fewer students per classroom and less need for boarding schools.
Everyone, from school administrators to parents, is confused since the Ministry of Education hasn’t laid out any detailed plans for the reorganization process.
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