The National Assembly Committee on Education, chaired by Julius Melly, met with Dr. Belio Kipsang, PS, State Department for Basic Education in consideration of Supplementary Estimates 1 for 2024/25 financial year.
The revised budget, presented PS Bellio Kipsang, has caused concern among Committee Members who fear critical education programs may be crippled.
The State Department’s budget has been reduced from Kshs.142.26 billion to Kshs.127.33 billion.
“Under Development budget, the overall reduction of Kshs 6.856 billion is under development projects without partner support. This amount is entirely under the GOK component of the development budget which has reduced from Kshs.7.2 billion to Kshs.350 million,” said Dr. Kipsang while making his submissions before the Committee.
According to documents scrutinized by Committee Members, the State Department has already registered 2,284,017 learners for 2024 national examinations and assessments.
The 100pc proposed reduction in the Supplementary Estimate No. I of the FY 2024/25 will affect the administration of the 2024 national examinations and assessments.
“The entire Ksh 5.023 billion budget allocated for supervision, invigilation, and examiners’ costs for the 2024 national examinations has been scrapped, jeopardizing the participation of 3,544,256 registered learners,” said PS Belio Kipsang.
Jerusha Momanyi questioned the rationale behind reduction of examination fees and infrastructure funding. Adding that, “removing funding for examination Council for invigilators. We can not go back to parents and tell them to pay for examinations.”
The School Feeding Program, crucial for learners, faces a potential move to the State Department on Aris and Semi Arid Land.
This raised concerns among lawmakers about coordination of the programme and funding from donors. Additionally, the State Department on Basic Education has pending bill of Kshs 2.4 billion from the 2023/24 financial year.
“We’re you consulted before the policy shit of moving the school feeding programme from Education to ASAL”, asked Committee Chair, Julius Melly.
The Committee is also seeking answers from the National Treasury regarding the rationale behind the school feeding program’s potential move and the removal of funding for the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) and invigilators.
“We need an explanation from the National Treasury on why the school feeding programme”, asked Rebecca Tonkei.
Other critical programmes affected by the budget cuts include free Primary Education for Special Needs Learners, free day Junior Secondary and free Day Senior Secondary, capitation for both primary and secondary schools, along with funding for laboratories.
Members of the Education have called for the reinstatement of crucial budget allocations to ensure uninterrupted delivery of essential education programs.
“As a Committee,” stated Abdul Haro, “we need to make sure that the Education Sector does not grind to a halt.” Chair Julius Melly echoed this sentiment adding, “we need a working basic education system in this country from pre-school to Form Four.”
