Parents with children in primary and junior secondary schools will start accessing bursaries through the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) if Parliament adopts a motion fronted by the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) through Gatanga MP Edward Muriu.
In his motion, the Gatanga MP expressed concern that the fund had only been benefitting secondary and tertiary school students and leaving out primary school students and the recently created junior secondary school students.
In the motion, the ruling party argued that failure to award bursaries to the two classes of Kenyan students goes against Article 53 (1) (b) of the constitution which entitles every child to quality education.
The legislator countered the narrative that Primary and Junior Secondary education is free since the government's capitation per pupil is inadequate to cater for the mandatory materials required for the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) thus affecting pupils whose parents are unable to meet the costs.
In line with the motion, Parliament aims to resolve to have every NG-CDF Board in each constituency approve additional allocation to the education bursary scheme in order to support teaching and learning activities associated with CBC and school feeding programs.
"It has come out clearly among the Members of Parliament that Education is the equalizer. It is the equalizer between the children of the poor and children of the rich," Wakili debated on the floor of the House.
He added that giving bursaries to basic education institutions would ensure that every child enjoys their right to a decent education which will in turn allow them access opportunities in the future.
Wakili is also lobbying Parliament to revise the capitation per student in primary school from the current Ksh1,420 per year to at least Ksh7,760, as the minimum optimal allocation.
“Education bursary schemes be extended to support learners in Primary and Junior Secondary Schools to cater for Competency-Based Curriculum requirements,” reads the motion
The proposal is unlikely to encounter any resistance since UDA enjoys a dominant majority in Parliament.
Parliament has deferred putting the question up for consideration, choosing to debate the motion at a later date.
