Financing Post-Primary Education in Kenya: A Review of Structure, Trends and Challenges

Abstract

The paper attempted a comprehensive review of the funding system for post-secondary education in Kenya. The review included such parameters as funding structure, trends challenges and reforms. The paper was based on the mix of desk research and interviews with select key informants. Among the key findings of the paper include: i) funding for post-primary education derives from both public and private sources; ii) public funding for post-primary education is pegged to the National Budget Cycle; iii) amounts of public funding for are partial (i.e.do not cover total learning costs including uniforms, food and accommodation); funding does not match growing demand for infrastructure and hiring of additional teachers and sustainability of funding for post-primary education is relatively due to difficulties of sustaining past economic performance levels, revenue collection levels, declining donor funding and entrenched poverty. The sustainability of the financing of tertiary and higher education through the Higher Education Loans Board appear threatened by two key factors, namely, high default rate of loans and incessant demand for tertiary and higher education.