Gov't donating money to schools is a misplaced priority: MP Nabii Nabwera

According to MP Nabwera, leaders have been seen during functions handing out large donations to well-developed schools, despite the fact that there are schools in remote parts of Kenya that lack basic-level facilities and deserve the donations.

Speaking on Citizen TV's Daybreak show on Wednesday, Nabwera opined that 'the nation has lived a lie', arguing that the government has turned a blind eye to bolstering education.

"Look at a school where my daughter goes to, Loreto Limuru, with everything and you have a public function, an AGM or something and you invite the Deputy President, the President, or a minister and they come with goodies worth Ksh.50 million, Ksh.100 million," he said.

"When a school in my village with 2,000 students, St Augustine Milimani 1,400, has no lab...I mean where should we be giving the money."

The legislator added that in order to prevent student stratification, the government should think about doing away with the performance-based school classification system.

"Part of the issue to deal with stratification is moving away from structuring schools as national, county, extra-county and sub-county and make all schools equal. Define a school," he said.

His remarks take place against the backdrop of a funding crisis in schools, which has led experts in the field of education to criticize the government's meager financial support.

Secondary school heads across have expressed fears that some core activities in the school calendars are bound to be adversely affected by delays in the release of capitation funds by the government.

They urged the government to increase funding per child in order to keep up with shifting economic conditions.

Since the government has increased funding this fiscal year, from 25% of the budget to 29%, with Ksh. 628 billion set aside, the Ministry of Education has stated that the issue of funding for not only secondary education but the entire sector will be better handled.

Ezekiel Machogu, the cabinet secretary for education, reassured them that the government has allotted enough funds for the plans for this fiscal year.