Residents of Nandi County have called for the proposed Basic Education Amendment Bill and the University and Tertiary Education Bill to provide for the consolidation of existing bursary and scholarship schemes into a single national education funding kitty under the Ministry of Education.
The residents said the proposed framework would create a coordinated system of financing education from basic education to university and tertiary institutions.
They argued that the current system, where different institutions and levels of government operate separate education funding programmes, could result in gaps, duplication and unequal access to educational opportunities.
Teacher John Ngesa said the two Bills should specifically provide for the incorporation of existing programmes, including the Presidential Bursary, National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) bursaries, county government bursaries and scholarships offered by public and private institutions, into one education funding framework.
Ngesa said such a system would simplify access to financial assistance and enable the Government to coordinate resources directed towards supporting needy learners.
Education Advocate Mercy Jeruto supported the proposal, saying a consolidated kitty would enable the Government to identify needy learners early and ensure financial assistance follows them throughout their education journey.
Jeruto said the proposed education funding kitty should have clear eligibility criteria, transparent disbursement mechanisms and effective monitoring systems to ensure deserving learners benefit regardless of their family background, constituency, county or institution.
She noted that many families currently have to seek assistance from different offices and institutions, including NG-CDF offices, county governments, schools and other organisations.
“These places an additional burden on parents and guardians, particularly those from low-income households, who have to move from one office to another seeking financial support for their children,” she said.
Jeruto said consolidation would enable the country to develop a comprehensive database of learners requiring financial assistance while reducing cases where some students receive several forms of support as other equally needy learners remain without assistance.
She said a centralised database would also help the Government determine the actual number of beneficiaries and allocate resources more efficiently.
Youth Leader Joseph Rono said the unified system should give priority to children from poor and vulnerable households, orphans, learners with disabilities and students from disadvantaged communities.
Rono called for bursaries and scholarships to cover tuition and other essential education-related costs, including learning materials, accommodation, meals and other requirements depending on the level of education and individual needs.
He said the emphasis should be on making education accessible rather than increasing the financial burden on students and their families through expanded loan schemes.
According to Rono, although education loans may assist some students to access higher education, they should not become the principal mechanism for financing university and tertiary education, particularly for learners from economically disadvantaged households.
He said scholarships and bursaries should remain a central component of the national education financing framework because they provide assistance without leaving beneficiaries with repayment obligations after completing their studies.
Woman Leader Lydia Chepkemei said the proposed legislation should recognise education as a continuous process and establish a financing system capable of supporting a learner from basic education through secondary school and into university, college or technical and vocational education.
She said a consolidated kitty would make it easier for the Government to plan education financing based on the actual number of needy learners and the resources required at every level.
Chepkemei added that the system should provide clear guidelines on the roles of national and county governments, educational institutions and other stakeholders involved in supporting learners.
Community Elder Paul Sang said many families were forced to withdraw children from school or delay their transition to higher levels of education because they could not meet the financial requirements associated with education.
“A unified bursary and scholarship system would give parents greater confidence that their children can progress through the education system without being denied opportunities because of poverty,” Sang said.
The stakeholders also called for strong accountability mechanisms in the management of the proposed education kitty, including regular audits, public reporting of beneficiaries and clear procedures for identifying and addressing cases of fraud or duplication.
Chepkemei said the Ministry of Education should work closely with county governments, NG-CDF structures, schools, universities, colleges and other stakeholders in implementing the proposed system.
She argued that consolidating existing schemes would not necessarily mean abolishing institutions that currently provide education assistance but would instead create a common framework through which their resources could support a coordinated national education financing programme.
“The experience and infrastructure of NG-CDF, county governments, educational institutions and other scholarship providers could be incorporated into the new framework to improve efficiency and ensure resources reach the intended beneficiaries,” she said.
The stakeholders urged Parliament to consider their views when debating the Basic Education Amendment Bill and the University and Tertiary Education Bill.
They said the ultimate objective should be to establish an education financing system that enables children and young people to access and complete education regardless of their economic circumstances.
By Sammy Mwibanda
