By Tamia Nuna
In 2008, the Government of Kenya launched the Free Day Secondary Education (FDSE) program, aimed at reducing financial barriers to secondary education. This initiative subsidized school fees and provided essential study materials, particularly textbooks, to students who previously couldn’t afford secondary education. The program has had several positive outcomes, most notably a significant increase in enrolment, which serves as a powerful incentive, especially for parents facing financial constraints.
However, as the program has been in operation for 15 years, it is now facing a significant threat. School principals, represented by the Kenya Secondary Schools Association (Kessha), have proposed an increase in school fees for all categories of secondary schools. This would mean that parents will have to allocate more financial resources to ensure their children’s access to education. For instance, parents with children in County and Extra County schools will bear the heaviest burden, as they would need to contribute an additional Ksh 25,488 in school fees.
This proposal stems from the inadequate funding provided by the state, which has left schools in financial distress, making it difficult for them to acquire essential resources, including food and study materials, to support their students effectively.
This development comes at a time when many Kenyan families are grappling with financial constraints due to the high cost of living. It is essential to analyse the potential impact of this fee increase, particularly on the students, with a special focus on the girl child.
Education has played a pivotal role in changing individual and societal perspectives on critical issues like female genital mutilation (FGM), early marriages, and teenage pregnancies. It empowers girls by providing information, reducing stigma, and enabling them to have bodily autonomy. Achieving this has been possible through targeted educational programs, including teacher training and the integration of FGM awareness into the school curriculum. Schools have also served as a support system for those at risk of FGM and early marriages.
Child marriage is often driven by factors such as illiteracy and gender inequality. Education has been instrumental in mitigating these issues by reducing illiteracy and empowering girls to shape their own futures through their unique abilities and strengths. Research has shown that increased education, including secondary education, is linked to delayed childbirth and lower chances of teenage pregnancies.
The FDSE program has been responsible for providing millions of children with access to secondary education, a crucial element in eradicating the triple threat of child marriages, sexual and gender-based violence. Given that child marriages and FGM remain prevalent in Kenya at rates of 23% and 21%, respectively, it is imperative for all stakeholders to recognize that increasing the financial burden only heightens the barriers to education in a society where education is often seen as optional for the girl child in various parts of the country.
Tamia Nuna is a Sexual and Reproductive health and Rights Youth Advocate at NAYA-SAIC II,
SAIC II (Safe and Inclusive Cities) is a programme that aims at promoting Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) and SGBV interventions by sharpening skills and providing opportunities to young people to drive sustainable, gender-transformative change in society. It also aims at ensuring that the civil society protects the rights of young people and is responsive to their needs. The interventions will take part in informal settlements in Nairobi (Mathare, Huruma, Kibera) and Kisumu (Nyalenda, Kondele).
