The National Assembly reinstates Sh2 billion for the school feeding program.
Hundreds of thousands of children from vulnerable homes have a renewed reason to smile as Kenya’s Parliament reinstates Sh2 billion for the school feeding program. This decision by the National Assembly’s Education Committee overturns the Treasury’s budget cuts for the financial year starting July 1. Julius Melly, chair of the committee, announced the reinstatement under the National Council for Nomadic Education in Kenya (NACONEK) budget during a session with the Budget and Appropriations Committee (BAC).
The Treasury had previously eliminated the multi-billion shilling budget for the school feeding program in its proposed estimates for the 2024/25 financial year. This essential program, which received Sh4.9 billion in the previous financial year ending June 30, 2024, faced significant cuts. Mr. Melly emphasized the critical nature of this program, stating, “The committee has reinstated Sh2 billion under NACONEK for this important program.” He further recommended that the Budget and Appropriations Committee allocate an additional Sh3 billion to fully restore the program’s original funding.
Mr. Melly highlighted the vital role of the school feeding program in retaining students, especially in marginalized, arid, and semi-arid regions, as well as urban slums. “This allocation should be provided under NACONEK, the institution responsible for implementing this program,” he said. He also indicates that NACONEK has now been given a board or a council to manage its operations effectively.
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The reinstatement of funds comes amidst broader financial challenges, as the Treasury allocated Sh642 billion to finance education in the 2024/25 financial year, a Sh47 billion reduction from the current year’s allocation of Sh689 billion. Ndindi Nyoro, chair of the BAC, questioned the feasibility of sustaining the school feeding program without supplementary budget provisions, emphasizing the priority of education.
Mr. Nyoro supported Mr. Melly’s proposal to hire 46,000 Junior Secondary School (JSS) intern teachers on permanent and pensionable terms, suggesting that their employment be backdated from January 2025 to July 2024. “We need to provision the money in the budget for hiring JSS teachers on permanent and pensionable terms, assuming there will be no supplementary budget,” he stated. This initiative would address the needs of the 46,000 JSS teachers, comprising an initial batch of 26,000 and a second batch of 20,000.
Embakasi East MP Babu Owino also advocated for the permanent employment of intern teachers, supporting the proposal for differentiated pay rates: Sh46,000 for teachers in hardship areas and Sh38,000 for those in non-hardship areas. He highlighted the chaos within the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), where teachers who receive training for two subjects often teach up to eight subjects. Owino stressed the need for adequate human resources and improved salaries alongside infrastructure upgrades like laboratories.
Addressing broader issues within the education sector, Owino criticized the new university funding model, pointing out the disparity where students pay Sh1.2 million for four years of a social course compared to Sh600,000 per year for a six-year medical course. “We need to address this funding model to ensure equity in education,” he said.
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Naisula Lesuda, another vocal supporter of increased funding for JSS interns, argued that the Teachers Service Commission should prioritize hiring current interns before considering new ones. She praised the Education Committee for reinstating the school feeding program, stressing its importance in keeping students in school. “Infighting within the Ministry should not jeopardize the school feeding program,” she said, thanking the committee for its efforts.
The reinstatement of Sh2 billion for the school feeding program marks a significant step towards ensuring continued nutritional support for vulnerable children in Kenya. By addressing the broader issues of teacher employment and funding models, Parliament is taking comprehensive measures to strengthen the education system and support the retention and success of learners across the country.
By reinstating the Sh2 billion budget for the school feeding program, the National Assembly has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting vulnerable children in Kenya. This essential program, managed by NACONEK, plays a crucial role in keeping children in school, particularly in marginalized and underserved areas. The decision also reflects broader efforts to address educational funding and teacher employment, ensuring a robust and equitable education system for all Kenyan students.
The National Assembly reinstates Sh2 billion for the school feeding program.
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