Parents of Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) learners across the country can now breathe a sigh of relief after Parliament passed a motion to increase the capitation fee per student seven-fold.
The MPs passed the motion fronted by Gatanga MP Edward Muriu, who is allied to UDA, on Wednesday morning paving the way for the capitation fee to rise from Ksh1,400 to Ksh7,760.
The development is expected to go a long way in alleviating the school fees burden that CBC learners parents' struggle with at a time when most of them have been complaining about the expenses that come with the new curriculum.
According to National Assembly Deputy Speaker Gladys Boss Shollei, the new directive is expected to cushion the parents from the continually rising cost of living.
Lawmakers also approved the motion allowing parents of students in primary and junior secondary schools to apply for bursaries provided by the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF).
"This house resolves that the education bursary scheme under section 48 of the National Government Constituency Development Fund be extended to support learners in primary and junior secondary schools to cater for the competency-based curriculum requirements," she stated.
"This house resolves that the government revises the capitation per student in primary school from the current Ksh1,420 per year to at least Ksh7,760 being the minimum optimal capitation factoring the new CBC education system and the prevailing high cost of living."
The motion also proposed that NG-CDF boards across all constituencies should approve increased allocation to the Education bursary schemes to support the school feeding programme among other learner-centric activities.
In his Bill, Muriu had dismissed claims that learning in primary and junior secondary schools was free noting that CBC had led to a spike in costs incurred by the parents.
Since the launch of the CBC curriculum during former President Uhuru Kenyatta's administration, parents had decried about being exposed to hidden costs they were footing for experimental-based learning sessions.
In August, the Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms report revealed that the State needed Ksh676 billion for the curriculum's implementation this year.
The funds were expected to cover reforms at all levels including pre-primary, primary, junior and senior school, Special Needs Education, teacher education, and technical and university education in the context of CBC.
