Kenya’s Free Day Secondary Education program is a game changer for students and families; but do you really know what it covers? From tuition fees to medical insurance, and even support for sports and science, this initiative offers much more than meets the eye. The best part? No complicate forms are needed if you’re in the right school and system. But how do you ensure your child qualifies? What steps should parents take to unlock these benefits? Read the complete post to discover how this powerful education program works; and why missing out could cost more than you think.

Free Day Secondary Education in Kenya

Kenya’s Free Day Secondary Education (FDSE) initiative aims to eliminate financial barriers for students in public day secondary schools across the country. Since its nationwide rollout in 2018, the programme has fund millions of learners; but funding gaps, administrative hurdles, and delayed disbursements pose ongoing challenges. FDSE helps learners in public day secondary schools continue their studies without burden of tuition fees. Check all about FDSE from the post below.

What Does FDSE Cover?

Each student under FDSE is support through an annual government grant of KES 22,244, sent directly to their school. This money takes care of different needs to make sure learners can focus on their studies. Here’s how the funding is split –

Item	Amount (KES)
Tuition & learning materials	4,144
Medical / Insurance (NHIF)	2,000
Co‑curricular activities	1,500
SMASSE (science/math support)	200
Administration & utilities	9,400
Maintenance / Infrastructure	5,000
Total per learner	22,244

Breakdown in Simple Terms

The grant is sent to schools in three parts; 50% in Term 1, 30% in Term 2, and the final 20% in Term 3.

• Learning Support – Covers textbooks, lesson materials, and exam costs.
• Health Insurance – Learners get medical cover through NHIF (National Hospital Insurance Fund).
• Sports & Activities – Funds are available for clubs, sports, and school events.
• Science Support – The SMASSE initiative helps boost science and math skills.
• Operations & Utilities – This pays for electricity, water, admin tasks, and staff support.
• School Maintenance – Helps fix or improve buildings and basic facilities.

Who Can Benefit?

FDSE is for students in Forms 1 to 3 studying at public day secondary schools. But both students and schools must meet certain requirements.

For Students	For Schools
Must officially enroll in a public day school.Must register in government’s National Education Management Information (NEMIS) System.A valid birth certificate is require during registration.	Must recognize by the Ministry of Education.Head by TSC register principal.Register and active on NEMIS.Have specific bank accounts for different grants (e.g., tuition, infrastructure).If both student and school meet the criteria, the FDSE support is automatically applied, no separate application is needed.

How to Get Started?

Though FDSE doesn’t require a special application, here’s what students and parents should do to ensure a smooth process –

• Complete KCPE and wait for Form 1 school placement.
• Enroll in a public day secondary school as directed by the Ministry.
• Submit necessary documents like KCPE results and birth certificate.
• Confirm with the school that your child’s details have been added to NEMIS.
• Once registered, your child’s school will start receiving the funds, and the benefits will begin.

Common Challenges Faced

While the program is a great step forward, some obstacles still need fixing. These challenges which are common in this Kenya’s Free Day Secondary Education (FDSE) Scheme are as follow as.

Delayed Funds

Schools sometimes get the money late. In 2025, first term funds were delayed until the end of January, causing financial strain for some schools and learners.

Not Enough Funding

Currently, there are around 3.93 million learners, but the government has only budgeted enough for 2.93 million. This leaves nearly 1 million students unfunded, creating an estimated KES 21.85 billion gap.

Gaps in Medical Coverage

About 300,000 students missed out on NHIF benefits because their schools hadn’t registered them correctly on NEMIS.

Lack of School Facilities

Over 1,600 schools still don’t have proper science labs, making it hard for students to do practical experiments in STEM subjects.

Inflation Pressures

Some education experts believe the current KES 22,244 per student is not enough due to rising costs. They suggest raising the amount to KES 29,000 or more so that all student needs can be met properly.

Why FDSE Is Important?

Despite the difficulties, FDSE is a powerful step toward ensuring that all Kenyan children get an equal chance to succeed. Here’s why the program matters –

• Equal Opportunity – It gives learners from poor and rural backgrounds the same chance as others to finish secondary school.
• Health Protection – NHIF helps cover medical costs, saving families from health-related emergencies.
• No Learning Gaps – Students can continue learning without being sent home for unpaid fees.
• Future Ready – It supports Kenya’s long-term Vision 2030 by helping produce a well-educated and skilled population.

Useful Tips For Parents & Students

To make the most of the FDSE program, here are some useful tips you must follow.

• Make sure your child is fully registered on NEMIS.
• Stay in touch with your school to check on funding updates.
• Ask questions about how funds are being used, schools must use money as per the guidelines.
• Follow up on promises like new labs or learning tools.
• Keep informed—changes to the program or budgets are usually announced in the news.

What Needs To Be Done?

To improve FDSE and reach all learners, stakeholders are pushing for

• More Funding – Increase the per-student capitation to reflect today’s costs.
• Timely Disbursements – Release funds to schools on time each term.
• Facility Upgrades – Build science labs, libraries, and ICT centers in under-equipped schools.
• Special Needs Support – Ensure that extra funding of KES 50,722 for learners with disabilities is properly tracked and used.

Our Thoughts

The Free Day Secondary Education program is more than just a policy, it’s a promise to Kenyan children that their future matters. It ensures that money should never be a reason for a child to miss school. While the road ahead has a few bumps, the goal remains clear: education for all. So, as a parent or guardian, ask yourself –

• Is my child’s school NEMIS-registered?
• Are school funds coming in on time?
• Is my child getting full access to learning tools, labs, and healthcare?

If you answered “no” to any of the above, it’s time to ask your school for answers or raise the issue with your local education office.