National Assembly Committee Rejects Education Ministry’s Special Needs Fee Plan
The National Assembly’s Cohesion and Equal Opportunities Committee has rejected a proposal by the Ministry of Education to impose a fee on parents of minors with special needs.
The proposal suggested that parents should contribute Sh9,500 for certain categories of special needs learners to boost the capitation grant. However, the committee felt that parents should not be required to pay any additional money to increase the funding.
The senators also highlighted concerns regarding the insufficient ratio of teachers and supervisors to learners in special needs institutions. They emphasized that this shortage negatively impacts the quality of education and care provided to these students.
During the meeting, nominated Senator Peris Tobiko pointed out that a 2018 proposal by the ministry to review the capitation grants for schools was never submitted to the Cabinet for approval.
Tobiko stressed the need for an increased allocation to support the differentiated unit cost model developed in 2018, ensuring that schools receive adequate funding.
Outstanding Payments and Stagnant Allocations
It was also disclosed during the meeting that staff at special schools are owed Sh6,319,225 in outstanding payments, representing 22 months of arrears.
Furthermore, the committee learned that the annual allocation to special and integrated boarding schools and units has remained stagnant at Sh655 million for the past six financial years.
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This amount is distributed equally among all learners with special needs, except those with deaf-blindness, who receive Sh29,662 annually, compared to Sh10,284 for those with other disabilities.
| Learners | Annual Allocation |
|---|---|
| Deaf-Blindness | Sh29,662 |
| Other Disabilities | Sh10,284 |
Infrastructure and Learning Aids
With 43,266 learners currently enrolled in special boarding schools, the Senators called on the Ministry of Education to provide adequate infrastructure to facilitate access to classrooms and other school facilities.
They also urged the ministry to ensure that appropriate learning aids are available for learners with special needs.
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National Assembly Committee Rejects Education Ministry’s Special Needs Fee Plan
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