The recent budget cut in the education sector will hit hard on the school feeding programme. The programme has been crucial in supporting learners in ASAL counties and poor urban areas. The programme, aimed at offering meals to keep children in school to reduce dropouts, had been allocated Sh3 billion for the 2023/2024 year. Money surrendered to the State Department of ASALs for the 2024/2025 financial year for the same.
Although the money for the feeding program remains intact, Basic Education PS Belio Kipsang argued that its movement to another department would affect its implementation and coordination with other education programs. He said the programme has an outstanding bill of Sh2.4 billion of last financial year, which will incur its first charge in the current fiscal year.
Kipsang demanded that the committee, chaired by Julius Melly, return the funds for the program to the State Department of Basic Education for improved efficiency and effectiveness.
Underfunded Free Day Senior Secondary School Program
Added to this is the Sh12.76 billion deficit for learners in the Free Day Senior Secondary School following budget cuts. The costing per learner is Sh22,244 while the total budget stands at Sh76.7 billion in this financial year. The allocation stands at Sh63.88 billion, lowering the capitation to Sh18,757 per learner.
He pointed out that full capitation of Sh22,244 ought to be retained, lest the funding for 1,381,100 learners be withdrawn in term three of the 2024 academic year and for 372,270 learners in term one and two of the 2025 academic year. He wanted an additional Sh12.76 billion to ensure full funding of the Free Day Senior Secondary School programme.
The challenges to these budgets are in need of critical reappraisal to ensure adequate funding of relevant, critical programs for learners in Kenya, such as school feeding and Free Day Secondary Education.