Learners in limbo as Government slashes Sh62bn from school budget

A wave of panic is sweeping across schools as a deep budget cut of Sh62.01 billion hits the State Department for Basic Education, casting a dark cloud over the future of millions of learners in primary and junior secondary schools.

The massive reduction, enforced by the National Treasury, threatens to cripple key programmes and services at the heart of the education system, raising fears of a full-blown crisis on Tuesday

The shocking figures were revealed by Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok when he appeared before the National Assembly’s Education Committee, led by Tinderet MP Julius Melly .

Bitok laid bare the extent of the funding gap, pointing out that the most affected areas include school feeding, exam administration, invigilation, and the building of classrooms and laboratories for Junior Secondary Schools.

"The areas we have identified as key underfunded areas are critical to the achievement of our mandate," Bitok told lawmakers.

"We are requesting this committee to restore this money."

The Free Primary Education programme is among the worst hit. It has suffered a Sh1.847 billion blow, slashing its budget from Sh9.7 billion to Sh7.9 billion.

This cut alone puts over 656,000 learners at risk.

The affected components include Sh1.2 billion in capitation and Sh700 million meant for the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment.

The programme, which supports 6.2 million children, allocates Sh1,420 per learner every year.

Learners with special needs, numbering 117,565, receive Sh2,300 each, while the government also provides Sh11,650 in boarding fees for 39,056 learners with special needs.

The Free Day Secondary School Education programme has not been spared either.

It now faces a Sh21.85 billion shortfall after its budget was reduced from Sh76.73 billion to Sh54.88 billion.

The Junior School Education segment, meant to serve 3.28 million students and 7,686 learners with special needs, has lost Sh18.8 billion.

The allocation dropped from Sh49.72 billion to Sh30.92 billion. Each learner in Junior Secondary is funded at Sh15,042, while those with special needs receive Sh50,772 annually.

Bitok warned that even the wider Secondary Education programme has taken a hit, suffering a Sh16.13 billion cut.

This includes the loss of Sh14.74 billion meant for junior school capitation.

"Under the recurrent budget for the financial year 2025/2026, there are notable deviations between the proposed budget estimates and the ceilings provided in the approved Budget Policy Statement," Bitok said.

Another area now hanging by a thread is the Quality Assurance and Standards programme, which has been slashed by Sh5.33 billion.

But perhaps the most heart-wrenching blow is the cut to the school feeding programme.

It supports 2.6 million vulnerable children in arid and semi-arid areas and urban slums. Its budget has been halved, dropping from Sh7.21 billion to Sh3 billion.

The programme was designed to provide meals on all 180 school days, a lifeline for learners whose only reliable meal comes from school.

With no clear path to restore the lost funds, schools now face a grim and uncertain future.