Parents have called for stronger government support for schools and learners amid fears that proposed changes to education financing could leave families shouldering more of the cost of schooling.
The concerns were raised in Kisumu and Homa Bay on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, when the National Assembly Education Committee took public views on six Education Reform Bills.
Parents, teachers, school heads and representatives of education institutions used the consultations to highlight areas they want addressed before the proposed laws are taken through the next stages of consideration.
At the centre of the discussions was the proposed education funding framework, which the Elimu Yetu Coalition said could bring cost-sharing into the education system.
In Homa Bay, the coalition urged Parliament to amend the proposal to protect the right to free education and prevent additional financial pressure on families.
“The Elimu Yetu Coalition raised concerns that the proposed funding framework could introduce cost-sharing and called for amendments to safeguard access to free education,” Parliament said.
The funding question was particularly important to parents and residents who said the cost of keeping children in school remains a major concern.
The National Parents Association asked Parliament to give parents’ associations formal recognition in law and establish a dedicated fund to support their work.
Stakeholders also sought greater involvement of parents in decisions concerning education policy and the running of schools.
“Stakeholders also called for stronger parental participation in education policy and school management,” Parliament said.
Residents and parents further called for more money to be allocated to schools through capitation. They also sought better school feeding programmes and stronger measures to ensure learning materials supplied to schools meet the required standards.
The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) focused on Junior Secondary Schools, proposing that they be given independent administrative structures.
The teachers’ union also urged the Committee to ensure teachers are protected under the proposed reforms while strengthening measures designed to safeguard learners.
“KUPPET called for JSS to be made autonomous and urged the Committee to protect teachers while strengthening provisions safeguarding learners,” Parliament said.
The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) raised concerns affecting teachers, calling for improved remuneration, job security and the release of school funds on time.
KNUT also proposed a change in the leadership of County Education Boards, suggesting that the County Commissioner should no longer chair the boards.
Instead, the union proposed that the position be held by a local educationist, a recommendation that received support from school heads.
Changes sought in education institutions
The public participation exercise also brought forward proposals affecting teacher training and education management institutions.
Teacher trainers from Asumbi Teachers Training College asked for students enrolled in Teacher Training Colleges to be brought under the student funding model.
The Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KESHA) proposed that school funding should cater for needs beyond tuition.
KESHA also called for capitation to be reviewed from time to time so that allocations can keep pace with the increasing cost of running schools.
Stakeholders proposed turning the Kenya Education Management Institute into the Kenya School of Education.
They also called for the Centre for Mathematics, Science and Technology Education in Africa (CEMASTEA) to be given a legal foundation as the national institution responsible for in-service training of teachers.
Other submissions focused on school meals and learning materials, with residents seeking improvements in both areas alongside increased government funding for schools.
“Residents called for improved school feeding programmes, better quality control of learning materials and increased capitation,” Parliament said.
The Education Committee, chaired by Kibra MP Peter Orero, said it would record the concerns and proposals raised during the consultations in its report to the National Assembly.
The submissions will be considered as part of the process leading to further debate and consideration of the six Education Reform Bills by Parliament.