Education takes largest budget share, interns set for permanent jobs

Budget policy highlights and revenue raising measures for the FY 2025-26 Budget. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]

The government has proposed a Sh702.7 billion allocation to the education sector, equivalent to 28 per cent of the Sh4.29 trillion expenditure in the 2025/26 national budget.

This represents a Sh44.5 billion increase from the Sh656.6 billion allocated in 2024/25 budget.

The Teachers Service Commission has been allocated Sh387.2 billion, a Sh29 billion rise from last year’s Sh358.2 billion.

The funds include Sh7.2 billion for the conversion of intern teachers to permanent and pensionable and Sh980 million for training under the Competency-Based Education (CBE) compared to Sh1.3 billion for last year.

Technical and vocational education and training institutions (TVET )will receive Sh4 billion under the entrepreneurship development project.

A further Sh1.4 billion will go towards construction and equipping of TVET facilities.

In 2023/24, TVETs received Sh30.7 billion in total, including Sh2.3 billion for infrastructure.

The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has been allocated Sh41.5 billion, up from Sh35.9 billion last year, to support university and TVET students with loans.

Scholarships for university students have been allocated Sh16.9 billion, with Sh7.7 billion set aside as capitation and scholarship support for TVET learners.

Infrastructure and equity programmes, primary and secondary school infrastructure will benefit from Sh1.7 billion, lower than last year’s Sh3.2 billion, which had included Sh1 billion for junior secondary school classrooms.

The Kenya Primary Education Equity in Learning Programme has received Sh13.3 billion, while Sh2.3 billion goes to the Kenya Secondary School Quality Improvement Project.

And Sh993 million has been allocated for research, science, and technology, and an additional Sh1.8 billion will support the development of integrated resource centres for learning.

While Sh3 billion has been earmarked for the school feeding programme, aiming to enhance attendance and nutrition among learners.

Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi yesterday said the allocations reflect the government’s sustained focus on strengthening the education sector.

“This budget demonstrates our unwavering focus on education as the foundation of our national transformation,” he said.

Speaking during the presentation of the 2025/26 budget in Parliament yesterday , Mbadi reaffirmed the government’s commitment to upholding the constitutional right to education.

However, he noted that fiscal constraints demand a reassessment of how public funds are allocated — particularly in areas such as examination subsidies.

“While we are committed to ensuring that this year’s national examinations proceed as scheduled, we must critically evaluate the sustainability of public funding for examination fees for all candidates, including those from well-off families,” said Mbadi.

He said the ministry is consulting with the Ministry of Education to explore cost-sharing mechanisms or a more targeted subsidy model that prioritises vulnerable learners while reducing unnecessary expenditure.

Treasury has allocated Sh5.9 billion for the administration of national exams this year.