The Principal Secretary for Basic Education, Dr Belio Kipsang, says the presence of parents in the lives of their children is the best way to prevent children from drug abuse and truancy.
Dr Kipsang said 97% and 72% of primary schools and secondary schools, respectively, are day schools, meaning the majority of learners in basic education are under the custodial care of their parents and guardians.
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He said there is therefore need for parents to be more available in the lives of their children first to know them better and, secondly, help nurture their growth and development.
Dr Kipsang made the remarks when he chaired the public sector hearings for the 20024/25 financial year and Medium-Term Budget for Education Sector at the Kenya Institute of Monetary Studies last on Wednesday.
Present were the Principal Secretary for University Education and Research, Dr Beatrice Inyangala, the Principal Secretary for Technical, Vocational Education and Training, Dr. Esther Thaara Muoria, and the Chief Executive Officer of the Teachers Service Commission, (TSC), Dr Nancy Macharia.
The Principal Secretary said the government commits about a third of the budget to Education, to address issues of access, equity and quality of education at all levels of education.
Dr Kipsang said the Free Primary and Day Secondary Education has taken care of learners with special needs.
He said the government supports integrated schools admitting and supporting learners with special needs in regular schools while it also supports learners with special needs living with severe disabilities who attend special schools.
He said the Ministry will revamp Educational Assessment Resource Centres (EARC) in all the 47 Counties, to provide assessment of children with disabilities, and recommend placement that assure full integration into the school system.
Dr Kipsang also said the budget allocation also took care of the school feeding programme of children in Arid and Semi Arid Areas (ASAL). He said the government had increased allocation from Ksh2 billion to Ksh4.9 billion, saying this will benefit more learners in the regions.
He said the national school feeding programme supports the Government’s goal of inclusive quality education for all children regardless of socioeconomic status or region. Also present included Vice chancellors of public universities and senior officials from the Ministry of Education.
