TSC Receives 9.35 Billion Budget Boost Amidst Ministry of Education’s Ksh57 Billion Cut
The National Treasury has unveiled sweeping budget cuts as part of the Programme Based Budget 2024/25, revealing cuts in critical areas such as Agriculture, Healthcare, Energy, Cooperatives, and Trade and Industry, which are expected to shock the education sector.
Among these areas, education bears the brunt of the downsizing. The State Departments in charge of Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVETs), Higher Education, and Basic Education are all likely to face a catastrophic budget cut totaling over Ksh 57 billion in the 2019 fiscal year.
According to the newly released document, TVETs will lose Ksh 2.94 billion, while Higher Education will lose Ksh 34.39 billion in funding. Basic education is not immune, with a significant drop of Ksh 19.43 billion planned for the next fiscal cycle.
Under the proposed allocations, TVETs will receive Ksh 29.97 billion, Higher Education Ksh 120.13 billion, and Basic Education Ksh 139.14 billion. However, this coincides with particular declines in each subsector.
Schools
Notably, primary schools have emerged as the principal victims in the Basic Education area, facing a Ksh 6.64 billion cut. The budget for primary education is Ksh 25.68 billion, while secondary education sees a modest increase to Ksh 104.78 billion from the previous fiscal year.
Quality assurance and standards in basic education would also face a Ksh 1 billion cut, reducing their allocation to Ksh 4.16 billion. Similarly, General Administration, Planning, and Support Services saw a financial drop, with their allocation reduced to Ksh 4.55 billion.
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The State Department for Higher Education is not immune to austerity measures, as universities face a loss of about Ksh 9 billion. This amounts to an allocated budget of Ksh 118.82 billion, down from Ksh 127.5 billion in the previous fiscal year.
Of particular concern are the 31 public chartered universities and four public university constituent colleges, which rely largely on Higher Education financing for operational sustainability. The bulk of public colleges are experiencing financial difficulties, with pending invoices totaling Ksh75 billion owed to statutory agencies and other creditors, a sum that has more than doubled in the last two years.
TSC 9.35 Billion Boost
Despite the overall decrease, there is a glimmer of light for teachers. The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) is expected to receive a significant boost of Ksh 9.35 billion, to employ 20,000 teachers in the current fiscal year, addressing shortages and improving the teacher-student ratio.
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Education CS Ezekiel Machogu emphasized the urgency of the situation, citing the Kenya Kwanza administration’s unparalleled hiring effort, which brought 56,750 teachers on board to ensure seamless operations within schools.
The State Department for Basic Education has a wide range of responsibilities, including managing the Basic Education Policy, administering primary and secondary education institutions, creating curriculum, and controlling national examinations, among others.
TSC Receives 9.35 Billion Budget Boost Amidst Ministry of Education’s Ksh57 Billion Cut
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