Stakeholders decry low, delayed school funding
The delivery of quality education in the country is being hampered by inadequate funding for learners, delayed capitation in schools, and suboptimal education policies, according to education stakeholders. This challenge has led to the commercialization of education, placing a financial burden on parents.
To address this, there is a demand for increased and timely capitation at all levels of education to fund learners’ education effectively.
Additionally, the security of teachers should be a government priority to ensure effective service delivery. School heads are facing immense pressure to facilitate learning, even in the face of delayed funding. The Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) Secretary General, Constante Wesonga, highlighted the challenges faced by schools and teachers due to inadequate funding.
He raised concerns about the government sending students to schools without the necessary funds, which strains school facilities. Wesonga also noted the exploitation of teachers by boarding school managers and called for policy reviews to address this issue.
The increased demand for education, inadequate public schools, and insufficient regulations have contributed to the growth of private schools. An enhanced budget, it is suggested, would allow the Teachers Service Commission to employ more teachers and alleviate the current teacher shortage.
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With adequate funding, the Ministry of Education could empower the Quality Assurance and Standards Department to better monitor and regulate schools. The stakeholders also expressed concerns about the confusion in tertiary education caused by the government sending learners to universities without providing necessary funds.
They emphasized the need to establish more learning institutions in remote areas and informal settlements and ensure access to equitable education for all citizens. The cost of administering Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) assessments was also deemed expensive, and there are concerns that the allocated budget is insufficient to sustain the education sector, particularly in light of the government’s 100 percent transition policy.
Stakeholders decry low, delayed school funding
