Alternative schools to receive government funding – Ministry

The Ministry of Education on Monday launched guidelines to provide for registration and regulation of Alternative Provision of Basic Education and Training (APBET) institutions in a move aimed at supporting education in informal settlements and improving access to basic education.

Speaking during the launch held at KICD Nairobi, Principal Secretary for Vocational and Technical Training Dr. Dinah J.C. Mwinzi announced the guidelines which she said will apply to all APBET institutions.

“Mobile and feeder schools in arid and semi-arid lands as well as those in the already designated urban areas will have to follow the guidelines. Any new site of APBET institutions outside the designated areas must seek approval from the Cabinet Secretary through the County Education Boards,” said Dr. Mwinzi.

“The Ministry has developed criteria to enable APBET schools access free primary education funds and is encouraging community-based schools to apply for this support. The Ministry has developed a non-formal education curriculum and syllabus for those who wish to pursue the non-formal education channel with more than 141,000 learners expected to benefit,” she added.

The Ministry of Education listed the basic standard requirements for registration among which included the availability of a current approved syllabus for the curriculum offered at the institution and meet sets of standard requirements for teaching, learning and assessment.

According to the Kenya Household Population Census (KHPC) of 2009, an estimated 1.9 million primary school children aged 6-13 years and 2.7 million children aged 14-17 years were out of school.

Most of these children hail from informal urban settlements, arid and semi-arid lands and it is mainly in these areas that APBET have emerged as viable options of responding to educational needs of children who are unable to join formal educational institutions.

“Access and equity, relevant and quality education for the Kenyan child is the reason we’re here today.”