Stakeholders raise concerns over education budget cut in Bungoma

Education advocates in Bungoma County have raised concerns over budget cuts in the proposed budgetary allocations in the Programme Based Budget (PBB) covering the financial year 2024-25.

Addressing the press in Bungoma, John Mukenya, the Coordinator, of Bungoma County Children’s Network (BCCRN), noted that after analysing and unpacking the Programme Based Budget (PBB) they have realised that Bungoma County assembly has not prioritised Education because they have reduced the overall allocation to the department from Sh1.6 billion in the previous financial year to Sh1.4 billon in the Financial Year 2024-25.

“As Education advocates, we see this as a step in the wrong direction and we want to tell the county government of Bungoma that Education is very important to this county that it cannot afford to reduce the budgetary allocation,” Mukenya added.

The advocate also poked holes in the whole budget, pointing out that there are also insufficient allocations to very key programmes in the Education department citing the provision of learning materials stating that with CBC in place, the schools need to have sufficient learning materials to enable teachers to deliver the new curriculum in the right way.

“We also need to see enough allocation for retooling of teachers to ensure that teachers are retooled and retrained on the new curriculum,” he said, adding that the county should also allocate resources towards digital literacy.

"Digital literacy is a very important tool in the 21st century which we want our learners to start, as county governments they have been given the mandate to build the foundation for the learners, a child who has a firm foundation will always do very well as they transit to higher levels."

Further, Mukenya rallied the Bungoma County Assembly budget and appropriation committee to consider increasing the budget to the Department of Education from the current Sh1.4 billion to Sh1.8 billion to sustain the needs of the department.

“Our appeal goes to the Bungoma County assembly budget and appropriation committee to consider increasing the Education budget to a substantive amount of at least Sh 1.8 billion so that it can cater for the needs of the department,” Mukenya said.

He argues that out of the Sh15 billion Bungoma County anticipates getting from the Exchequer only 10 per cent is allocated towards Education.

“International instruments dictate that Education should be allocated at least 15- 20 per cent of the overall budget of any country or county,” he said.

He noted that after gradually reducing funding towards Education support programmes; County scholarships and bursaries it has been proposed that Sh165 million is going to fund the education support programmes.

“But after gradually cutting the Education support programmes they are not bringing back that money to the department, they divert to facilitate the completion of other projects which is wrong,” he said, adding that the resources should be retained in the department.

Laura Doresi, Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE), representative in Bungoma, also decried reduced funding towards the TVETs from the last FY 2023-24 from Sh20 million to Sh15 million in FY 2024-25.

However, Doresi said, the recent report from the Ministry of Education (MOE) shows that there is a huge number of drop-outs therefore the county should increase funding towards TVETs so that they accommodate those who drop out.

She also pointed out that the Department of Education lacks requisite policies.

Also present at the meeting were Bungoma County CEC for Education Dr. David Wamamili and Education Director Eunice Mbwenya.