350,000 students may miss funding in new budget

Some 350,000 learners may miss out on capitation funding in the next financial year if MPs do not approve additional cash to plug a budget gap for education.

The National Assembly Education Committee yesterday heard that the Ministry of Education needed an additional Sh7.7 billion to cater for the children.

Basic Education PS Belio Kipsang told the MPs the Free Day Secondary School capitation was Sh59.4 billion but cited the deficit.

It also emerged that many children might drop out of school if MPs failed to approve an additional Sh500 million towards the feeding programme.

Ministry documents show some Sh1.8 billion is needed to cater for the food programme for pupils in marginalised areas.

Dr Kipsang told MPs cutting the budget would negatively affect access, retention and transition of children.

The two are among the four issues the PS flagged out in the 2019/20 budget.

“To urgently address this need, the State Department requires Sh2.9 billion in the 2019/10 financial year,” said Kipsang.

The details emerged during a two-day meeting between the ministry's top officials and the committee chaired by Julius Melly (Tinderet MP).

Education CS George Magoha and Teachers Service Commission CEO Nancy Macharia were also present at the meeting at a city hotel.