Children enjoying a class session.

Nairobi, Kenya - March 13, 2024 – Kenya has made significant strides in provision of quality education through free primary and secondary day education. The current competency-based curriculum framework aims to promote learners’ well-being and acquisition capabilities, skills, and values to contribute meaningfully to the economy and society at large. 

However, the learning environment in schools has not been adequately resourced to facilitate optimal learning and unlock children's full potential as envisioned in the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC).  Notably, the Free Primary Education (FPE) and Free Day Secondary Education (FDSE) per capita grants fail to provide adequate resources for learning in schools especially those in the arid and semi-arid regions including low resourced areas.

Further, the recent budget policy statement makes a notable reduction in primary and secondary schools’ budget allocation for the financial year 2024/2025.  This reduction does not consider ongoing reforms in the education sector, which call for an upward review of per capita grants to cater to CBC needs, including introducing a minimum essential package to cover fixed and operational costs independent of learner enrollment. 

 Yvonne Arunga Country Director notes: “The current budget process should consider revising primary school per capita grant to KES. 8,546 up from KES. 1,440, secondary school per capita grant from KES. 22,244 to 29,401 being the minimum optimal capitation and apply a differentiated unit cost for Special Needs Education (SNE) capitation. National education budgets should also respond adequately to CBC learning needs, inflation, and the growing number of learners enrolled in schools.

Save the Children believes that every child has the right to education. In line with this, through the LEGO Foundation funded Breadth of Skills project, we are advocating for increased GoK commitment to holistic skills development in learning institutions in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals, Kenya Vision 2030, and the African Agenda 2063.”

 Further, in reference to the Kenya Gazette Notice Supplement No. 37 of 8th of April 2015; Legislative Supplement (No.21) of Legal Notice (No. 39) of the Basic Education Act No. 14 (part V), and the registration guidelines for Alternative Provision of Basic Education and Training (APBET) in Kenya, Save the Children together with education stakeholders; Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya, the Kenya Primary Schools Headteachers Association, the Kenya Secondary School Heads Association and the Special Schools Heads Association of Kenya are also lobbying for registration of APBET institutions as a category of schools to benefit from GoK capitation grants, teacher deployment and management.

 ENDS

Notes to Editor: Save the Children has been providing support to children in Kenya through our development and humanitarian programmes for over 70 years. We work with communities, local partners, and the government to design and deliver programmes to meet the needs of the most deprived children. We also advocate for greater investment of public and private resources for children.

 For media inquiries contact-Ida Maritim, Communication and Media Manager, ida.maritim@savethechildren.org