Boost for teachers but free education pushed to the edge

About 20,000 intern teachers could finally be confirmed to permanent and pensionable terms after Sh4.9 billion was set aside in the 2026/2027 Budget.

The money is part of a wider package targeting teachers, including implementation of the second phase of the 2025–2029 CBA and promotion of at least 30,000 tutors.

The allocations are expected to provide relief to thousands of teachers who have spent years serving under internship arrangement.

But even as teachers win, key free education programmes continue to face significant funding gaps that could affect learning.

According to the Ministry of Education, the Free Day Secondary Education programme requires approximately Sh78 billion annually to adequately support learners in public secondary schools.

However, the programme has been allocated Sh54.6 billion, leaving a deficit of more than Sh23 billion.

The shortfall is likely to reignite concerns among school principals, who have repeatedly warned that capitation allocations have failed to keep pace with rising enrolment and increasing operational costs.

Many schools continue to struggle with the cost of food, electricity, water, examinations and learning materials, forcing some institutions to pass part of the burden to parents despite the government’s commitment to free education.

The National Assembly Education Committee observed that the recent Grade Nine placement exercise resulted in an uneven distribution of learners.

Some schools admitted students beyond their capacity, leading to overcrowding, while others remained underutilised despite significant investment in infrastructure.

The committee has consequently called for a comprehensive policy framework to guide future learner placement and ensure more balanced utilisation of education facilities.

In the Budget to be unveiled today, the sector has been allocated about Sh781.4 billion, representing 27 per cent of the entire national government budget.

The figure marks an increase of Sh25.3 billion from this financial year’s allocation.

A substantial portion of the funding will be absorbed by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), which has been allocated about Sh424.3 billion.

Of this amount, about Sh421.9 billion has been earmarked for Teacher Resource Management, covering salaries, allowances, recruitment, deployment and career progression of teachers.

The funding will also facilitate implementation of the second phase of the 2025-2029 CBA, translating into salary increases for teachers across various job groups.

The promotion of at least 30,000 teachers is expected to improve morale and address longstanding concerns over stalled career progression, while the confirmation of interns will help bridge staffing gaps that have become more pronounced following the rollout of junior secondary school under the Competency-Based Education (CBE).

Teacher shortage emerged as one of the major concerns raised by stakeholders during public participation on the budget. Participants argued that inadequate staffing continues to undermine learning and places excessive workloads on teachers.

In the Budget, junior schools capitation has been allocated Sh30 billion, money expected to address operational and material concerns that came with the CBE rollout.

The government has also allocated Sh7 billion for Free Primary Education.

Education stakeholders, however, continue to push for enhanced capitation, arguing that schools are increasingly struggling to operate within existing allocations.

The budget also sets aside Sh9.9 billion for the Kenya National Examinations Council.

The allocation will support administration of national examinations and assessments, including the new CBE-aligned assessments that are gradually replacing the country’s traditional examination framework.

Higher education is another major beneficiary of the education budget. The department has been allocated approximately Sh154.9 billion.

Within this, Sh56.7 billion has been earmarked for the Higher Education Loans Board to support university and college students through government financing programmes.

The funding comes amid continuing debate over the sustainability of the student-centred university funding model. The Budget and Appropriations Committee warns that public universities continue to face severe financial challenges despite the allocation.

The committee notes that pending bills in public universities have accumulated to nearly Sh100 billion.

According to the team, rising enrolment and inadequate funding could undermine universities’ ability to maintain quality teaching, research and student support services.

Technical and vocational training institutions have meanwhile been allocated about Sh58.5 billion. The government views the institutions as critical in producing skills required by the labour market and addressing youth unemployment.