Team asks city schools to lease land, buildings

Public primary schools in Nairobi could soon convert some of their prime idle land into commercial ventures to fund programmes due to insufficient government capitation grants.

This will see schools whose buildings are under-used rented out while idle land is developed by private investors under a public private partnerships (PPPs).

This diversification from conventional revenue sources is one of the key recommendations of a task force appointed by Nairobi County on improving performance in primary schools.

The report, for instance, says Upper Hill Day Nursery School located in the prime district should be redeveloped into a modern facility while maintaining the early childhood education function.

“The rest of the building can either be rented out or serve as a resource centre,” the report says. It, however, says tight policy is needed so as to prevent encroachment.

Public schools have been hit by a shortage of funds for repairs and development since the introduction of free primary education (FPE) in 2003 when parents in most schools stopped paying fees.

The Treasury releases Sh1,020 annually to every pupil in a public primary school, which is said to be inadequate.

Revenue generation is key to sustaining these schools in the city with each requiring an average Sh54 million for repairs and upgrade.

Mark Matunga, the chairman of the task force, says the county currently relies on donors but the institutions require a more sustainable system.

“It will cost the county in the next five years to rehabilitate all the schools at least Sh3 billion each year,” he said.

Outdoor advertising

“The county doesn’t have that kind of money. So, we have proposed strategies for the county government to bring in the private sector, development partners and individuals who can adopt schools.”

The report also explores the possibility of setting up private schools on public land to cater for the growing middle-class numbers in the city.

“Nairobi government believes in removing the constraints to private participation in education especially in school financing and land acquisition, by giving incentives designed to make private education more attractive to investors,” says a draft county education policy.

This route, however, faces a challenge as it is difficult to determine returns on investments in social projects like education.

Schools like Park Road and Muthaiga Primary which are near major roads also stand to benefit from outdoor advertising revenue which is currently channelled to City Hall.

“While a billboard mounted on Muthaiga Primary School ground generates more than Sh5 million, the school does not benefit from these proceeds,” the report says.

Limited funding has seen institutions start income generating activities; for example, Loresho Primary is keeping poultry.