Members of Parliament have moved to bridge long-standing gaps in the education sector by supporting proposed legislation that seeks to formally recognise Alternative Provision of Basic Education and Training (APBET) institutions within the national system.
The proposal is contained in the Basic Education (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which aims to bring informal learning institutions under government regulation and support structures.
Plan to expand access to education
If adopted, the move is expected to open up government funding and resources to millions of learners currently enrolled in informal schools across the country.
These institutions—commonly found in underserved and informal settlements—play a critical role in providing education to children who might otherwise miss out on schooling.
Addressing long-standing inequalities
The Bill, sponsored by Anthony Oluoch, seeks to correct historical exclusions by formally recognising APBET institutions.
Such schools include non-formal education centres, adult learning programmes, mobile schools, and night schools, many of which have operated outside the framework of the Basic Education Act 2013.
Currently, the law only recognises public and private schools, leaving APBET institutions without official status despite their widespread presence.
Impact on learners and national systems
Due to this exclusion, learners in APBET institutions are not captured in the National Education Management Information System (NEMIS), effectively locking them out of government capitation and registration for national examinations.
According to Oluoch, nearly three million children remain outside the formal education system, a situation he argues undermines the constitutional right to education.
The proposed reforms are expected to improve inclusion, streamline data collection, and ensure all learners benefit from national education policies.
