The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Kisumu branch Executive Secretary has slammed the government after allocating Ksh 95 to each primary school learner for the second term.
David Obuon decried the low fund allocated for learners’ books, saying that parents are poised to suffer to support their children’s education.
According to the circular, Ksh.5 per learner has been allocated for textbook maintenance, Ksh.15 for teachers’ guides and reference materials, and Ksh.40 for exercise books.
“This is a 48-page exercise book, one. How about the rest of the learning areas? Where will the learner get the rest of the exercise books? This in essence is telling parents of this country to dig into their pockets to support the learning of their children,” Obuon said
Parents also raised concerns over the allocation, warning that inadequate funding could negatively affect learners.
“We should not gamble with the education of our children. The government needs to be serious in matter education,” said Zachary Nyamatari.
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Primary schools have also been allocated Ksh.23 per learner for renovations, Ksh.7 for assessments and examinations, and Ksh.2 for science and technology.
Obuon criticised the allocation to science and technology, saying it undermines the government’s push for STEM education under the Competency-Based Curriculum.
“Today you are talking CBE, where science and technology has been the core. We are talking about STEM as a pathway. This is a mockery,” he said.
Another parent, Rachael Otundo, called for increased funding for the education sector.
“Enough resources should be allocated to the Ministry of Education because it is the core ministry for the purposes of growth,” she said.
The government currently allocates Ksh.1,420 annually to every learner under the free primary education programme, distributed in a 50:30:20 ratio across the three school terms.
The capitation is expected to increase to Ksh.2,300 annually per learner in the next financial year.
By Juma Ndigo
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