Education Financing in Kenya: Parents’ Perceptions about the Implementation of the Cost-Sharing Policy in Secondary School Education

Abstract

The purpose of this article is twofold. First, to determine the direct costs incurred by parents as part of the cost-sharing policy to finance secondary school education in Kenya and, second, to

Influence of Selected Institutional Factors on the Impact of Constituency Development Fund in Financing Education in Public Secondary Schools in Ndaragwa Constituency, Kenya

“…For the various areas that can lead to students dropping out of school as presented in Table 3, the principals' ratings indicate that CDF has assisted students who become needy in the course of their secondary school education more than all the others. The reasons for dropping out of school are due to perceived future prospects or lack of them, schools failing to provide impetus for continued study, youngsters admiring the lifestyles of contemporaries who had already left, youngsters being tired of study and schools being no fun (Wambugu & Makoena, 2013). In this regard dropping out of school can be mitigated through guidance and counselling and promoting co-curricular activities.…”

Influence of Cost Sharing on Students’ Academic Performance in Secondary Schools in Kenya: A Case of Kitui County

“…(Orodho,2002). With reduced government spending on schools, as part of the cost-sharing strategy in education, government expenditure on education dropped to 40% and the parents had to finance the remaining 60% (Wambugu, 2013). Under the secondary schooling program, authorities pay schools kshs.10,265 per pupil annually, this is expected to cover tuition and administration costs, school maintenance and improvements, and class activities Parents are still responsible for uniforms and lunches -and the subsidy does not cover residence costs for children at boarding school (KIPPRA, 2013).…”

“…With reduced government spending on schools, as part of the cost-sharing strategy in education, the current government policy on how schools should raise funds gives a lot of leeway to secondary school head-teachers to decide on the type of educational levies to impose on parents (Wambugu J., 2013). These levies which come in terms of development fees, PTA fees, transportation fees, activity fees, boarding and meals, personnel emoluments are always hidden and never consisted schools charge then arbitrarily and they vary from school to school this leads to an increase in the school fees and it denies the needy a chance to perform well in the national exams.…”

“…The financing of secondary school education in Kenya is based on cost-sharing policy. Cost sharing, which was introduced in Kenya in 1988, has led to an increase in school fees and a high dropout rate among learners at secondary school level (Wambugu J., 2013). In 1988, the Presidential Working Party on Education emphasized the need for cost sharing in education between the government, parents and communities due to a decline in available government funds (IPAR, 2003).…”

“…In 1988, the Presidential Working Party on Education emphasized the need for cost sharing in education between the government, parents and communities due to a decline in available government funds (IPAR, 2003). In this arrangement the government finances 40% while the household finances 60% (Wambugu, 2013). The implementation of cost sharing in education, in context of rising poverty in the country, has led to adverse effects with regard to retention rates, access to and quality of education (Martin, 2008).…”