By Augustine Oduor
President Kibaki’s free education programme could be headed for major changes to seal corruption loopholes.
The move would also set pace for efficient provision of education to all children in line with the new Constitution that provides for free and compulsory education.
Under this development, students may never be sent home for any levies as the State is considering full payment including examination fees and other charges that burden parents.
There could also be significant shift in funding children’s education, from the current system of capitation where the monies are wired directly to schools’ accounts.
Figures from the Ministry of Education indicate that so far some Sh190 billion has been spent in financing free education.
A Ministry of Education concept note dubbed “evaluation of the free primary and free day secondary education programmes,” seen by The Standard On Sunday, however, says the new Constitution has set new developments that call for a major review of the free primary education programme.
The document cites Article 53 (1) (b) that provides for free and compulsory basic education and Vision 2030 that holds education as the major driver in accelerating Kenya to a middle level economy.
“It is against this background that the Policy Framework on Education and Training 2012 and Basic Education Bill 2012 have been developed to realign the education sector to the Constitution,” reads the note.
The document further justifies the review noting that there were enormous lessons learnt, achievements realised over the period free education was guided by Kenya Education Sector Support Programme.
“This should form a strong starting point for the new conceptualised National Education Sector Support Programme.
Education PS George Godia confirmed the decision to review the entire programme was arrived at after “an extensive discussion with the Treasury.”
He said this was necessitated by the new Constitution that now guarantees children’s right to free and compulsory education.
Under this development, students may never be sent home for any levies as the State is considering full payment including examination fees and other charges that burden parents.
There could also be significant shift in funding children’s education, from the current system of capitation where the monies are wired directly to schools’ accounts.
Figures from the Ministry of Education indicate that so far some Sh190 billion has been spent in financing free education.
A Ministry of Education concept note dubbed “evaluation of the free primary and free day secondary education programmes,” seen by The Standard On Sunday, however, says the new Constitution has set new developments that call for a major review of the free primary education programme.
The document cites Article 53 (1) (b) that provides for free and compulsory basic education and Vision 2030 that holds education as the major driver in accelerating Kenya to a middle level economy.
“It is against this background that the Policy Framework on Education and Training 2012 and Basic Education Bill 2012 have been developed to realign the education sector to the Constitution,” reads the note.
The document further justifies the review noting that there were enormous lessons learnt, achievements realised over the period free education was guided by Kenya Education Sector Support Programme.
“This should form a strong starting point for the new conceptualised National Education Sector Support Programme.
Education PS George Godia confirmed the decision to review the entire programme was arrived at after “an extensive discussion with the Treasury.”
He said this was necessitated by the new Constitution that now guarantees children’s right to free and compulsory education.
“It is now law that a child’s interest is paramount. This means that in light of these developments, we have to re think the whole concept of FPE,” he said.
“We are already seeing a lot of legal cases against schools for chasing away students for school fees, project monies, uniform, examination fees and other costs,” he added.
Prof Godia said the Treasury is keen to know the total cost of keeping a child in school.
“If schools do not have to send children back home for school fees, project monies, uniform, examination fees and other levies then what would be this cost?” he said.
He said his ministry has already appointed a team to work together with the United Nations Children’s Fund to rethink the entire programme.
“We have already instituted an internal survey to “re-look the whole architecture of free primary education programme with a view of making a ‘radical decision’ on the programme,” he said.
Financing
The team will among other things evaluate the design, implementation and impact of the FPE and free day secondary education.
They will also “identify the cost drivers of basic education, establish the unit cost of basic education and identify sources of financing basic education,” reads the concept note under terms of reference.
Also being evaluated is whether the Government should continue the capitation system of financing children’s education.
“We are asking whether we should continue with the same mode of sending monies to schools through capitation or we can find alternative methods,” he said.
The PS said other ways that would be considered may emulate the African Development Bank system where they buy equipment and send them directly to the schools.
“And this means that we reduce on the many challenges,” he said. Under the capitation system, there have been claims that some teachers inflate enrolment figures to ensure more money is sent to schools.
These claims have been so serious that the Ministry of Education together with that of Finance have devised an accounting system where school heads are expected to file quarterly returns of enrolment to enable the Government disburse funds through capitation.
Finance minister Njeru Githae and his Education counterpart Mutula Kilonzo expressed fears that the Government may be funding ‘ghost learners’ in public schools.
“This cash is not meant for teachers. It is capitation, which means it is sent per child,” said Kilonzo.
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