Bulaya calls for permanent school renovation fund, Sh3.9tri/- needed

DODOMA: BUNDA Urban MP Esther Bulaya has called on the government to establish a permanent funding mechanism for renovating dilapidated schools and constructing classrooms, citing major challenges facing the country’s education infrastructure.

Speaking today, November 2, 2026, Bulaya said research estimates that 3.9tri/- is required to restore deteriorating school facilities. She urged the government to introduce a policy requiring every annual budget to allocate funds for renovating ageing schools and maintaining the quality of newly constructed infrastructure.

She also questioned the government’s strategy for addressing classroom shortages in primary schools, noting that more than three million new pupils are expected to enroll next year. She said adequate preparations were needed to ensure that children have a conducive learning environment.

ALSO READ: Govt commits to strengthening education infrastructure

Responding, the Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office (Regional Administration and Local Government) said the government had conducted an assessment and identified 42,785 classrooms and 18,813 teachers’ houses that require reconstruction.

The Deputy Minister said the government was continuing to finance the rehabilitation of education infrastructure through the BOOST programme, including an allocation of Sh100 million to each local government authority in the current financial year.

On the specific source of funding for school renovations, the Deputy Minister said the government had submitted a proposal to the President’s Office for Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance. Local government authorities have also been directed to submit their requirements for classrooms and other infrastructure to enable the government to plan the construction of new classrooms and schools.