Govt to Fund All School Co-curricular Activities.
State funding will be made available for all extracurricular activities in primary and secondary schools.
Principal Secretary for Education Belio Kipsang stated that this will reduce parental strain. In 2020, the extracurricular activities in schools were suspended due to the emergence of Covid-19.
Prior to that, the State disclosed that it would have spent Sh3.5 billion on co-curricular activities in primary and secondary public schools in 2020.
Kipsang, who was then the Education CS, stated that Sh2.8 billion would have been allocated to secondary schools and Sh700 million to primary schools for co-curricular activities, including sports.
Last year, activities like as sports and drama began gradually, but the school schedule is expected to return to normal on January 23, when schools reopen.
In a letter to education directors dated December 21, 2022, and reviewed by the Standard, the PS did not specify the amount but emphasized that the government will pay for all extracurricular activities.
“The government funding shall cater for travel, accommodation, the subsistence of all students participating in all co-curricular at all levels of the activities,” said Kipsang.
There are sports, music, and theater festivals, as well as science and engineering expos.
The PS has instructed regional, county, and sub-county directors of education to elect new committees to oversee the fund.
The committee shall consist of education directors at all levels, representatives from primary, secondary, and private level associations, special needs education, and Teachers Service Commission quality assurance and standards officials.
“As you are aware the term of the existing co-curricular activities committees expires in February 2023,” said Kipsang.
He stated that the new committees will work on the budget so the ministry can enable the funding.
The functions of the committees will include budgeting for monies released by the education ministry, programming, coordination of activities, fundraising, and close collaboration with other partners.
The government will cater for the preparation of fields, halls, and exhibition rooms, and Kipsang has stated that pending bills would not be permitted at any level of extracurricular activities.
Officials reported that the calendar for the primary, secondary, special needs, music, drama, science, and engineering fairs is complete and awaiting clearance from the PS.
He said the competency-based curriculum has identified talent development as an important component that will enable students to realize a holistic education by acquiring skills, values, and knowledge that will be applicable in real-world situations and enable them to become productive members of society.
The co-curricular organizers have been instructed to adhere to predetermined guidelines when managing the activities.
The State will also purchase prizes, security, health concerns, and assistance for all levels of judges, referees, adjudicators, and other officials.
