One million learners to miss capitation in 2024, PS Kipsang reveals

According to Basic Education PS Belio Kipsang, this is occasioned by the reduction of funding for the Free Day Secondary School Capitation by Ksh.22 billion in the supplementary budget for the 2023/2024 Financial Year.

The PS however had a herculean task accounting for the sudden influx of this year's KCPE candidates by up to 200,000 after he used this as justification for convincing the Julius Melly-led National Assembly Education Committee that his department was requesting for additional funding for infrastructural development in secondary schools. 

Seemingly unconvinced by the PSs move to use this influx as justification for requesting for additional funding for infrastructural development in secondary schools, the committee accused the Ministry of Education of falling short in their planning.

PS Kipsang also told the Julius Melly-led committee that with the budget cuts, the ministry may not be able to finance the capitation for one million learners in secondary school.

"In this particular year we shall not be able to finance 1 million learners on the free day secondary school," said Kipsang.

The Supplementary estimates has increased the budgetary allocation for the State Department of Basic Education from Ksh.147.8 billion to Ksh.156.7 billion an increase of Ksh.8.9 billion part of which will cater for the Capitation of JSS learners Ksh.5.5 billion and an allocation of Ksh.3.8 billion allocated for school examination and assessment

The Ministry of Education also lamented over the Ksh.4 billion cut on funding allocated for the Capitation of TVETs

And as the train of education reforms gains speed the education officials insisted that it can only get to its destination through adequate financing of the sector.