K42.7m allocated for training, human resource development

 THE Education Department, in recognising the importance of education, training and human resource development, has appropriated K42.7 million for this purpose, education acting secretary Dr Joseph Pagelio said.

The project aims to procure and distribute curriculum textbooks to all schools. 

About three million textbooks have been purchased and are in the containers in each province ready for distribution to schools by the first quarter of this year.  

Pagelio also said standards officers will now be more comfortable and mobile when visiting schools with K5 million for the construction of inspector’s houses and the purchasing of vehicles and outboard motors . 

In a statement last week, Pagelio also said the Aiyura, Keravat, Sogeri and Passam national high schools were given K10 million each for maintenance.

He said K70 million had been appropriated for infrastructure development and maintenance of classrooms for high schools – K35 million to settle prior commitments and K35 million to be distributed to high schools but based on their work programmes.  

“Distance education programmes will also be improved with K3.7 million to improve the capacity of our distance education to deliver distance education,” Pagelio said.

All technical and business colleges will be expanded and rehabilitated with a budget of K10 million.

Pagelio said K11 million was appropriated to improve library facilities and ensure that they were well stocked with updated library materials.  

The project will cover all primary, secondary schools and training of school librarians.

“Due to the government’s increased support for education, the maximum school fees limits for this year will remain at affordable levels for all schools and colleges in the national education system.

“K172 million of the department’s budget has been allocated for school subsidy payments. 

“The department hopes to make the first payment on education subsidy for elementary by Jan 31, but this is subject to early release of funds by the Treasury Department,” Pagelio said.