Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok has urged the Senate to support the establishment of a national school feeding framework and harmonised schemes of service for Early Childhood Development and Education teachers across all 47 counties.
Speaking during the Senate Assessment and Planning Retreat in Naivasha, Bitok said reforms under the Competency Based Education framework have seen the pioneer Grade 9 cohort record nearly 100 percent transition to Grade 10 following the Kenya Junior Secondary Education Assessment.
He noted that the government has recruited 100,000 teachers, expanded classrooms and laboratories, and disbursed capitation funds on time.
The education sector’s annual budget now exceeds Sh700 billion, with Sh245.9 billion allocated to Basic Education, though a Sh111 billion deficit remains, affecting free primary education, school feeding and assessments.
Bitok called on senators to ensure county governments prioritise safe and child-friendly ECDE centres in their development plans, warning that some learners still study in poor conditions.
He also backed the proposed Basic Education Amendment Bill 2025 to strengthen coordination between national and county governments.
“You cannot teach a hungry child,” he said, urging lawmakers to guarantee at least one fortified meal daily for every pre-primary learner nationwide.
