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The Kenya National Association of Private Colleges (KENAPCO) has expressed concerns regarding the recently tabled Budget Statement for the year 2024/2025, despite the education sector receiving the largest share of the national budget. The Chairperson of KENAPCO, Dr. Ekrah Ndungu, has called for a reevaluation of the allocation strategy to ensure equitable access to educational resources for all students.
On Thursday evening, Hon. Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury, Prof. Njuguna Ndung’u, announced that the education sector will receive a substantial Kshs. 659.5 billion, representing 27.5% of the national budget. This allocation includes Kshs. 36.31 billion for the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB), Kshs. 4.3 billion for ongoing university projects, and Kshs. 17.9 billion for the conversion of Junior Secondary School (JSS) interns and the hiring of new ones.
While acknowledging the significant allocation, Dr. Ndungu highlighted critical areas that need further attention. She particularly emphasized the need to increase the Kshs. 30 billion allocated to Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions. Dr. Ndungu argued that private TVETs should be included in the HELB loans scheme, noting that students in private TVETs currently do not have access to these loans, unlike their counterparts in private universities.
“This discriminates against the students since it’s a loan, not a grant…the student is expected to repay. Equality is enshrined in our constitution,” Dr. Ndungu asserted. She referenced the 2010 Constitution of Kenya, which states that “every person has the right to education” (Article 43.1.f), and mandates affirmative action programs to ensure youth access to relevant education and training (Article 55) and special opportunities for minorities and marginalized groups (Article 56).
Dr. Ndungu’s call for an upscaled approach aligns with these constitutional provisions, advocating for measures that bolster access and affordability of education for all Kenyans. She believes that including private TVET students in the HELB loan scheme would be a more pragmatic approach to achieving these goals.
The budgetary allocation has sparked discussions across the educational sector, with various stakeholders weighing in on the implications of the distribution of funds. Proponents argue that the substantial funding reflects the government’s commitment to education, while critics, including Dr. Ndungu, stress the importance of ensuring that the allocation translates into equitable benefits for all students, regardless of the institution they attend.
As the debate continues, it is clear that the focus remains on how best to implement the budget to fulfill the constitutional mandate of providing quality education to all Kenyans. Dr. Ndungu’s insights underscore the need for ongoing dialogue and adjustments to ensure that no student is left behind in the quest for educational advancement.
She also urged that private TVETs needed to be onboarded because as we speak, the Government imposes hefty levies on private TVETs for training their trainers.Upskilling of all trainers is important for the benefit of the Kenyan student.
