Kenyans have expressed mixed reactions after the Ministry of Education announced an allocation of Ksh 95 per learner in public primary schools for textbook maintenance, exercise books, teachers’ guides and reference materials, and stationery.
The funds released for Account One are part of the second term tranche received from the National Treasury.
According to a circular dated April 23 and signed by Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok, the data used to calculate the disbursement was extracted from the National Education Management Information System (NEMIS) on November 25, 2024.
“The Government has released Ksh 95.25 per learner for Account 1, which has been deposited into respective schools’ accounts,” reads part of the circular.
The details show that Ksh 5 per learner is allocated for textbook maintenance, Ksh 40 for exercise books, Ksh 15 for teachers’ guides and reference materials, and Ksh 35 for stationery, bringing the total to Ksh 95 per learner.
Govt Breaks Down Ksh 95 Allocated to Learners
The breakdown has triggered public discussion, with parents and education stakeholders questioning whether the allocation reflects the rising cost of learning materials.
Lawyer Willis Otieno said the Ksh 95 figure allocated to the learners highlights deeper concerns about national priorities.
He noted that in a country where billions are reportedly lost through corruption, inflated tenders, and political mobilization events, education funding at the classroom level appears insufficient.
“This is no longer just about budgeting. A nation that underfunds education while overfunding politics is slowly mortgaging its future generation,” he said.
On his part, X user @Muriaso questioned the practicality of the allocation, particularly the Ksh 40 allocated for exercise books.
“95 bob for each student, where 40 bob is meant for exercise books. How many books can 40 bob buy?” the user posed.
On her part, Nyamisa Chelagat (@Nyamisa_Chela) questioned the practicality of the Ksh 95.25-per-learner allocation for essential school needs, noting that even basic items such as exercise books and pens cost more than Ksh 1,000.
She argued that the allocation does not reflect current economic realities, saying the cost of basic school supplies, transport, and other essentials has continued to rise while per-learner funding remains low.
“What exactly is that 95 shillings supposed to cover in today’s economy? Exercise books alone cost like a thousand bob. Add textbooks maintenance, stationery, teachers’ guides… and somehow that same amount is expected to stretch across all of it? How?” She posed.
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Ministry Responds After Uproar
In response, PS Bitok stated that the approved capitation for primary schools is capped at Ksh 1,400 per year.
He noted that the funds are usually released by the National Treasury to the Ministry of Education on a termly basis in the ratio of 50:30:20.
According to Bitok, the capitation amount is arrived at based on clear expenditure lines (vote heads) that are determined by estimated costs incurred by each learner.
Upon receipt of the money, and based on the exact amount received, the Ministry of Education releases the funds with an accompanying circular detailing the expenditure breakdown (vote heads).
“Capitation funds are released on three phases corresponding to the school calendar terms. The circular in reference is based on the 2nd term tranche as received from National Treasury,” he said.
Underfunding in Secondary and Primary Schools
This comes after the Ministry of Education announced the release of KSh23.4 billion to public schools to support learners across all education levels.
The allocations will see junior school learners receiving KSh5,000 each, secondary school students receiving KSh22,244, and KSh1,424 in primary schools.
The latest allocation comes amid growing concerns over the underfunding of public schools, capitation deficits, and delays in disbursing funds crucial to sustaining school operations.
More than 1.1 million secondary school students have been affected by capitation shortfalls due to stagnant budgets and rising enrolment, with schools reportedly receiving about KSh 15,844 per learner instead of the required KSh 22,044.
The funding gap has contributed to mounting pending bills, as schools prepare budgets based on official capitation figures but receive lower disbursements.
Between 2020 and 2024, cumulative funding deficits stood at KSh 76.9 billion for secondary schools, KSh 31.9 billion for Junior Secondary Schools (JSS), and KSh 14 billion for primary schools.
During the same period, the number of students not adequately covered by government capitation rose from 724,959 in 2020/2021 to 1,161,349 in 2023/2024.
Also Read: Govt Disburses KSh23.4 Billion for Schools Capitation
Ministry of Education Budget Allocation
Despite the shortfalls, the education sector received the highest allocation in the National Government’s Budget Estimates for the 2025/26 financial year.
According to an analysis by the Parliamentary Budget Office, the sector was allocated KSh 701.1 billion, representing 28.1 percent of the total national budget.
The allocation was expected to support capitation funding across primary schools, junior secondary schools, secondary schools, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions, and universities.
The funds were also set aside for the remuneration of teachers, instructors, and lecturers, as well as the development, maintenance, and expansion of education infrastructure.
In January, the government released KSh 44.3 billion for Term One capitation, representing 50 percent of the annual allocation.
Of this, KSh 26.1 billion went to Free Day Secondary Education, KSh 14.5 billion to Free Day Junior School Education, and KSh 3.7 billion to Free Primary Education.
