Staff Layoffs and Funding Cuts Looms Ahead of Secondary School Curriculum Changes
A huge reform awaits the nation’s more than 10,000 secondary schools, which could result in significant staff layoffs and financial cuts as the government implements changes to the national curriculum.
The Ministry of Education recently rejected a proposal to move the final cohort of junior schools to secondary schools.
According to Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) Secretary General Coliins Oyuu, schools with surplus staff in comparison to their student population may need to contemplate layoffs, particularly those affecting teachers on Board of Management contracts and support staff.
The secondary school population is expected to fall, with an anticipated one million students awaiting the 2024 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exam, necessitating considerable school restructuring.
According to data submitted to Parliament by the Ministry of Education, there are currently 4.2 million secondary school pupils enrolled, which is likely to reduce to around 3.3 million when schools reopen next year.
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Belio Kipsang, Principal Secretary of Basic Education, emphasized the anticipated impact of these adjustments, adding that a decrease in secondary school enrollment could help to close funding shortfalls.
Dr. Kipsang said that, despite stagnating funding over the last six years, the Ministry of Education is facing a Sh22 billion gap and has lowered capitation from Sh22,224 to approximately Sh17,000.
However, he predicted that the departure of 2024 KCSE candidates and the suspension of Form One admissions in 2025 would reduce the secondary school financing issue to approximately Sh11 billion.
Dr. Kipsang stated that the remaining deficit will be rectified in the 2024–2025 budget allocation, following consultations with the Education Committee.
Nonetheless, the decrease in student population will present financial issues because government funding for schools, known as capitation, is directly proportional to student enrollment, potentially resulting in a significant decrease in revenue.
Akello Misori, secretary general of the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet), underlined the significance of continuing to fund secondary schools even after this year’s candidates have left to sustain effective operations.
Despite potential financial pressures, Misori voiced optimism that the student population reduction could help address Kenya’s long-standing teacher shortage.
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However, he cautioned that this progress might lead to job layoffs, as Knut’s secretary general indicated that some institutions might have to fire staff due to recent high enrollment.
Silas Obuhatsa, chairperson of the National Parents Association, forecasts a major reduction in secondary school congestion, which could lead to smaller class sizes and reduced demand for boarding school facilities.
However, the Ministry of Education’s lack of comprehensive plans for the reorganization process causes confusion among school administrators, teachers, and parents.
Staff Layoffs and Funding Cuts Looms Ahead of Secondary School Curriculum Changes
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