The Funding of Free Primary Education and Its Prospects for Sustainability in Kakamega and Kajiado Counties, Kenya
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Date
2014
Authors
Ogola, Martin O
Olembo, Jotham
Mse, Godfrey
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
International Knowledge Sharing Platform
Abstract
The introduction of Free Primary Education in Kenya left the government with a greater role and burden in
financing primary education. The new role encompassed mobilization of resources, paying tuition fees, training,
recruitment and paying teachers, and the provision of infrastructure and instructional materials. Parents on the
other hand were required to provide basic needs for their children such as school uniforms, food and transport to
school where necessary. This paper sought to establish the funding mechanisms for FPE and examine the
sustainability of the FPE initiative. The study was conducted in Kakamega and Kajiado districts (now Counties).
From the 59 schools sampled, 59 headteachers and 177 teachers were included in the study. Fourteen Area
Education Officers (AEOs), 118 parents, 118 School Management Committee (SMC) members, 2 District
Education Officers and 7 senior officers from the Ministry of Education headquarters were also interviewed. The
study used questionnaires, interview schedules and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) for data collection. Head
teachers and teachers indicated that no preparation for FPE had been given to them prior to implementation and
the training given after introduction of FPE was inadequate and rushed. Head teachers and teachers revealed that
most parents were not actively involved in school management affairs and had misinterpreted the FPE policy.
Members of SMC were seen as lacking the necessary capacity to contribute effectively in financial management,
budgeting and curriculum support in schools. Still, SMCs were more supportive than PTAs. Five concerns
emerged as fundamental to the sustainability of FPE in Kenya: budgetary provisions and constraints, Kenya’s
economic performance, donor support, political commitment and community support. The sustainability of FPE
is threatened by high cost of funding, the shortage of teachers, reliance on donor support, uncertainty over
continued political goodwill, slowed growth of the Kenyan economy and the apathy from parents. There are
policy gaps relating to early childhood education, admission of pupils into primary schools and allocation of FPE
grants.
Description
A research article published in Journal of Education and Practice
Keywords
Funding, Free Primary Education, Prospective Sustainability, Kakamega, Kajiado Districts, Kenya
Citation
Ogola, M. O., Olembo, J., & Mse, G. (2014). The funding of free primary education and its prospects for sustainability in Kakamega and Kajiado Counties, Kenya.