The National Assembly has passed a Motion urging the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) board to approve additional funds to the education bursary scheme.
According to the Motion moved by Hon. Edward Muriu (Gatanga), the additional allocation is aimed at supporting teaching and learning related activities associated with Competence Based Curriculum (CBC) including school feeding programs.
While moving the Motion Hon. Muriu said, “the education bursary schemes under Section 48 of the NG-CDF Act, 2015 should be extended to support learners in primary and Junior Secondary Schools (JSSs) to cater for CBC requirements.”
He added that failure to extend bursaries to these learners has affected pupils whose parents are unable to meet the attendant costs.
Further, Hon. Muriu argued that the current provision to primary and JSS violates the provision of Article 27 of the Constitution on children’s right to quality education and quality nutrition.
According to the lawmaker, the Motion creates a foundation for a Bill to amend the Basic Education Act, adding that lack of provision for school feeding programs has resulted in a slow attainment of universal basic education across the country, poor school enrollment and low performance of students in schools.
The Member also sought to compel the Ministry of Education to increase the capitation per student in primary schools from the current Ksh.1,420 per year to at least Ksh. 7,760 factoring in the new CBC and the prevailing high cost of living.
Addressing the media on Wednesday 11th October after the Motion was passed by the House, Hon. Wakili Muriu said, “the Motion which I moved on review of the scope of education bursary scheme under NG-CDF and capitation for learners in primary and JSSs has been passed by the House. This therefore, creates a foundation for a Bill to amend the Basic Education Act.”
He sought the government to include school feeding programme in the next budgetary allocation
“Article 53(1)(b) and(c) That give right to All Children in Kenya, right to quality Education and Nutrition.
The quality education can only be attained if the children are provided with quality nutrition because no education without food,” Hon. Edward Muriu quoted the clauses of the constitution
The legislator observed that out of Sh 620 billion allocated for education sector in the previous budget, school feeding programme wasn’t included, something he remarked should be considered in all basic learning institutions
“Our children in Primary and Junior Secondary has been performing dismally because of malnutrition. This is something that must be addressed.
We need to increase capitation so as to include a portion of food in our learning schools,” he remarked
He observed that children in ECD, Primary and Junior Secondary requires quality nutrition because they are at the growing stage
“There is an issue of enrolment right now in the country contributed by malnutrition.
In Gatanga Constituency, those who attained more than 350 marks were less than 10 students. This shows that there’s a missing link between quality education and performance,” he added
The motion was adopted by the Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wa on the floor of the House, signalling a paradigm shift from poor education to quality health education system
The Basic Education Amendment Bill which is already being drafted will see Ministry of Education be allocated huge budget to cater for the program which was stalled since former President Mwai Kibaki’s reign