The United States government has dealt a huge blow to President William Ruto’s administration by canceling the Tusome literacy programme, which was funded through the US Agency for International Development (USAid).
The decision follows President Donald Trump’s recent directive to freeze nearly all foreign aid projects and move USAid under the control of the US State Department.The ripple effects of this decision are expected to severely impact the education sector, which has relied on billions of dollars in USAid funding to improve literacy rates over the past decade.
The Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD), for instance, receives about Sh3 billion annually, towards printing, evaluation and distribution of Grade 1 to 3 textbooks.The initiative was vital in the distribution of textbooks to public schools, ensuring a 1:1 textbook-to-student ratio and improving literacy outcomes nationwide.
Questions now emerge whether the government will be able to step up its financial commitment to education or forge new partnerships to sustain the progress made under Tusome.
By Nairobi