Members of the National Assembly on Wednesday, September 25, 2024 started debate on  a Motion seeking to reform the country’s education bursary schemes to ensure free and compulsory basic education for all. 

The Motion, sponsored by Nairobi County MP, Hon. Esther Passaris, aims to consolidate the multiple bursary schemes into a unified system to enhance transparency, efficiency, and access to education.

The mover emphasizes the Constitutional right of every child to access free and compulsory education, as enshrined in Articles 43(1) and 53(1) (b) of the Constitution. It also seeks to address the persistent challenges faced by the current bursary system, including lack of transparency, delays in disbursements, and insufficient coverage of educational costs.

“Education is a right, not a privilege. When I say free, I mean we have to provide the uniform, the books; we have to provide the teachers. No child should be left behind due to financial constraints,” Hon. Passaris said while moving the Motion.

The Motion proposes collapsing all existing bursary schemes—including the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF), National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF), and other county and ward-based schemes—into one fund managed by the Ministry of Education. The consolidated funds would be remitted directly to schools, ensuring that every child benefits from free basic education.