Stakeholders Urge Government to Prioritize Policy Shift in Education Funding
Educational stakeholders are calling on the government to prioritize policies that promote equity over equality in the education sector.
According to the lobbyists, current policies, particularly the most recent school funding model, favor equality while failing to appropriately address equity inequalities.
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“Innovative practices in education could meet the needs of today’s learners,” the campaigners claim.
Evans Okinyi, CEO of the East African Philanthropy Network, emphasized the major challenges that students encounter in rural and marginalized communities.
Okinyi remarked that the 2020 Kenya Economic Update had highlighted various concerns impacting fair access to education. He emphasized the need for a comprehensive plan integrating technology, community participation, and policy innovation to address systemic obstacles in education.
Okinyi stressed that successful implementation of this plan requires collaboration with the government, philanthropic organizations, and the commercial sector.
Okinyi also stated that national averages disguise discrepancies in the education system.
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Okinyi expressed concern that the new finance model for higher education, although well-intended, has the potential to worsen equity disparities. Unless implemented with integrity, the tools and processes could lead to increased marginalization of the poor.
The forum highlighted that Kenya’s education environment faces diverse and significant problems, ranging from unequal access and quality discrepancies across socioeconomic and geographical divisions to the need for resilience in educational delivery methods in the face of global crises.
According to John Mugo, CEO of Zizi Africa, education is always evolving, bringing both obstacles and opportunities. We must be adaptable and imaginative, embracing not only technical advances but also pedagogies and programs that engage and empower students.”
The working group, which is part of the East African Philanthropy Network, covers a wide range of topics, including community philanthropy, health, climate philanthropy, impact investing, foreign affairs, youth and social enterprise, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
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Despite technological integration in education, major barriers to digital access and literacy remain, particularly in underprivileged populations.
Mugo emphasized that, in the pursuit of educational equity, it is imperative to explore untapped areas filled with potential. This endeavor’s success hinges on its ability to identify and nurture talent in the most remote and underserved communities.
Stakeholders Urge Government to Prioritize Policy Shift in Education Funding
