Govt responds after parents complain of teachers asking for eggs and chicken for CBC classes
By Nancy Marende, October 14, 2025The Ministry of Education has dismissed reports that parents are being required to take items such as eggs and chicken to schools as part of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) learning process, terming such cases as exaggerated and unacceptable.
Speaking at a local TV station on Monday, October 13, 2025, William Sugut, the Head of Secondary Education at the Ministry of Education, stated that the government has already provided funding to schools to cover learning materials under the CBC, and that parents should not be burdened with additional costs.
Also Watch: Parents urged to participate in the CBC curriculum
“There should be no situation where teachers ask parents to take eggs or chicken to school unless the parents want to appreciate the teachers for doing a good job — that is wrong,” Sugut emphasized.
He clarified that every school receives capitation funds from the government, including a specific vote head to support the purchase of CBC materials needed for classroom demonstrations and practical lessons.
“When we started junior schools, we gave clear guidelines in terms of capitation on the vote heads that the government funds. Part of that includes a vote head for CBC materials to help teachers acquire what they need for demonstrations in class,” he said.
Also Watch: KNEC unveils digital portal to track grade 3 learners’ progress under CBC
Sugut said isolated reports of schools asking parents to contribute items like eggs were an exaggerated interpretation of CBC requirements and not reflective of government policy.
“If there are one or two cases, they are isolated and exaggerated. We want to be very clear to our teachers that they should be able to carry out the activities in the curriculum using the resources that have been provided,” he added.
The Ministry, he noted, is also working on a new fee structure for senior secondary schools, which will ensure affordability and reduce the financial strain on parents.
“As we speak, there is a team working on the fees for the senior secondary structure — it will be affordable,” Sugut assured.
CBE
This comes a week after Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba assured Kenyans that the government is fully prepared for a smooth transition of learners under the CBE system as the 2025 national examination and assessment season officially begins.
Speaking on October 3, 2025, Ogamba stated that the Ministry of Education has developed a robust plan, which includes a budgetary allocation for 1,600 new laboratories in schools that currently lack them.
He explained that this is part of the preparations for the historic 2026 transition of the first CBE cohort to senior school.
“The textbooks for use by learners are ready for distribution countrywide and will be in schools before the start of Term One,” he said.
Speaking during the launch of the 2025 national examinations and assessments, the CS added that Sh950 million has been allocated this financial year to retool teachers to ensure effective delivery of the new curriculum.