One million secondary school learners to miss on FDSE funding
A budget shortfall might prevent nearly one million students from receiving free secondary education funding, the Parliament was informed on Tuesday.
Belio Kipsang, the principal secretary for Basic Education, claimed that the Sh65.4 budgeted for the 3.93 million pupils expected during the fiscal year beginning in July can only support 2.93 million students.
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To support free secondary education, the government pays Sh22,244 each student in public secondary schools.
“A total of Sh87.5 billion is needed given the current enrollment of 3.93 million students at the rate of Sh22,244 per student. Thus, the FDSE (Free Day Secondary Education) Program does not apply to 998,620 students, he informed the National Assembly Committee on Education.
He spoke before the lawmakers to discuss the ministry’s spending plan for 2023–2024.
With a goal of achieving a 100 percent transition of students from primary to secondary schools, the FDSE started in January 2018.
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Currently, the government provides all children with free primary education (FPE) and financially supports secondary education in day schools.
Treasury has allotted Sh12.4 billion to the State Department of Basic Education as Free Primary Education, FPE capitation, or Sh1,420 per learner, for the fiscal year beginning in July.
For free junior secondary education, a proposed budget of Sh15.5 billion has been put aside, or Sh15,042 per student.
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Total funding for the State Department is Sh135.48 billion, of which Sh115.773 billion will be used for ongoing expenses and Sh19.707 billion for development.
One million secondary school learners to miss on FDSE funding
