MPs Told To Invest NG-CDF Funds In Education, Infrastructure And Development Projects
KBC's Abdiaziz Hashim (left) and Education Experts after an interview on the "State of Education in the Country" last week
By Our Reporters
Worth Noting:
- “Poverty in Kenya is on the rise due to global climate change, which is marginalizing more families and the depreciation of Kenya shilling. Any money for Education sector is welcome. Thousands of students benefit from CDF bursaries” he said.
- MPs claim the CDF disbursement from Treasury has now delayed by more than seven months. However, Dr Gaitho noted that the issuance of bursaries from the CDF kitty is being used by MPs to boost their popularity in the constituencies.
- “It’s a popularity contest between MPs where thousands of people are invited to the various forums where the cheques are issued,” he said.
The National Government – Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) should be used to build infrastructure for basic education and for development projects geared to create employment in the constituencies instead of funding bursaries for post graduate students in local and foreign universities.
A panel of education experts says they are ashamed to see PHD and Masters students walking into universities and colleges flashing cheques from the constituency kitty popularly called CDF.
“Its unfair for someone studying for Master’s degree to get CDF funding. it’s immoral!!,’’ said Maliba Arnold Nyajayi, the Strategic Communication Advisor in the office of Secretary General UDA offices.
He said although CDF has done well in funding infrastructure in primary and secondary schools, more money should be allocated to this sector. “CDF was the pilot project for the devolved government era. But it is not a bursary because of the way it is structured. Sometimes, all students in a school get a flat rate of Sh500 to Sh5, 000 each, which might not help all the needy students,” he said.
According to Dr Vincent Gaitho, Kenya’s National Association of Private Universities Secretary General, CDF is important to very many students across the country.
“Poverty in Kenya is on the rise due to global climate change, which is marginalizing more families and the depreciation of Kenya shilling. Any money for Education sector is welcome. Thousands of students benefit from CDF bursaries” he said.
MPs claim the CDF disbursement from Treasury has now delayed by more than seven months. However, Dr Gaitho noted that the issuance of bursaries from the CDF kitty is being used by MPs to boost their popularity in the constituencies.
“It’s a popularity contest between MPs where thousands of people are invited to the various forums where the cheques are issued,” he said.
Dr Gaitho, who is also the chairman of the University Council at Mount Kenya University (MKU), called on MPs to focus on investing CDF in specific development projects in their local areas.
“Each constituency is unique. Area MPs should have projects that will put money in the pockets if their constituents. For instance, our farmers have too much waste after every harvest – milk, maize, vegetables. The mangoes season is coming and local markets will soon be flooded with mangoes. We need to reduce this waste,” he said.
Dr Gaitho recommended that a bill be introduced in Parliament to authorize bursary funds to become revolving funds.
“Those who benefit from bursaries should pay back. Let’s make it sustainable through a revolving fund since we are developing human capital that eventually should become useful to the country,” he added.
The education sector analysts were discussing the Status of Education in Kenya in a KBC television programme last week. Joshua Nyambane, an educationist, said there is a multiplicity of too many bursaries of little amounts being issued by politicians. “The individual budgets cannot even buy shoes or uniforms for the pupils and students in schools and colleges. We should synchronize the various bursaries being given out by governors, MPs and MCAs,” he regretted.
The experts agreed that though the education gets the lion’s share of the national budget, most of it goes to pay salaries and other recurrent expenditure, leaving a deficit in infrastructure development fund.
“The high budget allocation indicates the priority of the country but it is still not enough,” said Nyambane.
They spoke as learners joining Form One in 20 day schools within Kiharu constituency, Murang’a County are set to have their school fees subsidized while others will enjoy full scholarships complete with free uniforms. This follows the launch of an ambitious programme dubbed Masomo Bora by area legislator Ndindi Nyoro under the NG-CDF project. Additionally, parents whose children enroll in day schools for their secondary education will only pay 1,000 shillings as school fees and enjoy free meals as part of the school feeding programme.
Mr. Philip Pande, a Youth Inclusion advisor, said the Ministry of Education is one of the largest funded ministries in Kenya since independence.
“It is time to emphasize on TIVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) as opposed to herding all students into various universities.
The African Development Bank (AfDB) says they are supporting TIVET to ensure that the average student does not miss out on technical training,” he added during the TV interview.
Congratulating teachers and parents for supporting all the 2023 KCSE candidates, Dr. Gaitho encouraged the students who did not qualify for university entrance to seek vacancies in TIVET institutions. He also called for changes to allow a selected intake of students into universities for candidates who did not attain minimum university qualifications (C+ and above) but are gifted and have excelled in sports, drama and music, among other talents.
The panelists agreed that there is still a missing link between local universities and job absorption, resulting in a brain drain abroad.
Dr Gaitho said the Kenyan economy has been shrinking, so students are seeking jobs below their qualifications because the economy is too thin. “There is lack of innovation; we are an importing country . Containers come in full of imported goods but are being shipped out empty. Those with resources and money are only thinking about putting up housing development projects, many of which are less than 50 per cent occupied.
Dr Gaitho once again called for increased collaboration between universities and industries so as to close the gap between the skills of fresh college students and the skills being demanded by industry.
“Universities prepare students for international markets. Those who have qualified for university but opt to attend TIVET institutions should be encouraged,” he added.
“Traditionally, everything is anchored in Grade A. Yet, public schools have a shortage of teachers, poor infrastructure and low funding for all school activities. The government should allow the private sector to invest more in the education sector,” said Nyambane.
Dr Gaitho said universities are in top gear for curriculum review and development in training teachers for the CBC syllabus and in preparation for the intake of CBC students in 2027.
He challenged universities to identify themselves with a niche area of spcecilisation and to seek commercialization of patents developed at institutes of higher education.
“They should identify solutions for local and global problems. Let our institutions become centres of excellence in certain areas,” he said, as he invited those with the resources to liaise with local universities and industries to identify research areas and commercialize patents.
Despite the many challenges in the sector, Maliba said, Kenya is doing well as a country in education, with more universities seeking charters.
“We are a regional resource hub and CBC can be made into an international education curriculum. In Somalia and South Sudan, the Kenyan curriculum is highly sought after,” said the analysts.
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