Kuppet wants education Bills halted over funding

KUPPET Secretary General Akelo Misori addresses a media briefing on two Bills before Parliament in Nairobi on September 17, 2026.  [Benard Orwongo Standard]

Teachers have called for the suspension of the ongoing public participation on two education Bills before Parliament, warning that the proposed laws fail to give the Government a clear and enforceable mandate to fully finance education.

Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) Secretary-General Akelo Misori said the Basic Education Bill, 2026 and the Tertiary Education Placement and Funding Bill, 2026 should not be advanced until stakeholders are adequately sensitised and the proposed reforms are backed by a clear policy and financial framework.

Addressing a press briefing at the union’s offices in Nairobi, Misori said the Bills could have far-reaching consequences for learners, teachers and institutions, yet the public had not been given sufficient opportunity to understand and interrogate their provisions.

“We call upon the relevant authorities to open genuine, structured and countrywide sensitisation and consultation forums before these Bills proceed any further,” he said.

The union said the lack of a costing framework was particularly worrying, arguing that Parliament was being asked to legislate reforms without a clear indication of how they would be financed.

According to Misori, legislation affecting education should be accompanied by a financial roadmap outlining the resources required, the implementation timeline and the source of funding.

“Sound legislation needs a clear financial roadmap showing how reforms, including tertiary placement and funding, will be paid for, over what timeline and from which resources,” he said.

On basic education, KUPPET said the Bill does not expressly require the Government to fully finance basic education or guarantee the release of capitation before the beginning of every school term.

The union also raised concern over provisions allowing for “additional charges”, saying these could undermine the constitutional guarantee of free basic education.

According to KUPPET, the proposed law would also empower parent-teacher structures to recommend charges on parents, creating uncertainty over the extent of the Government’s financial responsibility.

The union wants the financing framework consolidated into a transparent system, arguing that bursaries, scholarships and capitation are currently fragmented across different channels. It also called for a dedicated, ring-fenced fund for learners with special needs.

KUPPET further criticised the Tertiary Education Placement and Funding Bill, saying its failure to define “full funding” could leave students uncertain about whether Government support would cover tuition only or also accommodation, meals and transport.

The union said the Bill should clearly establish education financing as an enforceable Government responsibility rather than leave crucial aspects to interpretation.

“‘Full funding’ is nowhere defined, leaving room for it to be read as tuition alone, excluding accommodation, meals or transport,” the union said.

KUPPET also raised concern that the proposed tertiary funding system could rely heavily on loans rather than grants and scholarships. It said the proposed Fund lacked a secure, ring-fenced source of revenue, exposing financing to unpredictable annual budget allocations.

The union further wants continuing students guaranteed funding until completion of their programmes, warning that students could be exposed to interruptions if funding is withdrawn midway through their studies.

Misori observed the process was also being undermined by inadequate public participation, with some forums held far from teachers, parents and learners in rural and marginalised areas.

“Public participation held out of reach of the very people it is meant to serve is participation denied,” he said.

The union is also opposed to the Bills being considered without a Sessional Paper on Education setting out the policy direction behind the proposed reforms.

KUPPET argued that detailed legislation should follow, rather than precede, an agreed national policy framework. It warned that enacting laws before settling policy could result in structures and financing models that later require costly amendments.

Beyond financing, the union has raised concerns over learner placement, governance of schools, teacher-management responsibilities, quality assurance, protection of learner data and the rights of children with disabilities.

In tertiary education, it also wants a clear appeals mechanism for students aggrieved by funding decisions and a review of the proposed one-year loan repayment period, which it says does not take into account whether a graduate has secured employment.

KUPPET is now calling on the National Assembly, the Ministry of Education and the Parliamentary Committee on Education to suspend the current public participation timelines and undertake wider consultations.

The union wants both Bills aligned with the National Education Sector Strategic Plan, supported by a published costing framework and subjected to countrywide stakeholder engagement before Parliament proceeds with consideration.