In a groundbreaking move to ease the financial burden of education, dairy farmers in Uasin Gishu County can now pay school fees using milk instead of cash.
This comes after Cooperatives Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya officially launched the Maziwa ni School Fees Program, an initiative aimed at reducing school dropout rates while boosting milk production among cooperative societies.
The program, pioneered by Governor Jonathan Bii Chelilim, is currently being piloted at Tuiyo Farmers Cooperative before expanding to other cooperatives across the county. It allows dairy farmers to trade milk for education, ensuring their children remain in school without the financial strain of tuition fees.
The Maziwa ni School Fees Program operates through agreements between dairy cooperatives and schools. Instead of paying fees with money, parents can deliver milk to the cooperative, which then credits their child’s school account.
The system is automated through a special application, ensuring that every two liters of milk delivered daily is immediately recorded as school fees. At the end of the month, the total milk supplied is calculated, and its monetary value is deducted from the school fees balance.
A cooperative chairperson ensures that receipts are generated and given to parents, confirming the fees have been settled. This structured approach not only guarantees transparency but also prevents financial mismanagement, ensuring the milk’s value is directly utilized for education.
Speaking at the launch event, CS Wycliffe Oparanya expressed optimism about the program’s potential, saying:
“I am happy that the Maziwa ni School Fees Program is being implemented here, and I would like for it to be implemented in the whole country in dairy cooperatives. It would be my joy that it even graduates from dairy cooperatives to other cooperatives too.”
The initiative provides multiple benefits:
Prevents School Dropouts: Many families struggle to pay fees on time, leading to children missing classes. By allowing milk payments, the financial burden is significantly reduced.
Encourages Increased Milk Production: Since parents rely on milk to pay fees, they are motivated to improve dairy farming, leading to higher yields.
Reduces Livestock Sales: Traditionally, parents sell cows to raise school fees. This program ensures farmers can keep their heifers while still affording education.
Supports Financial Stability: The cooperative model ensures that milk payments go directly to schools, eliminating middlemen and financial losses.
Recognizing that not all farmers produce enough milk to cover full tuition costs, the county government has pledged support. Through extension services, struggling farmers will receive training, improved dairy feeds, and veterinary services to boost production.
This inclusivity aspect ensures that even small-scale farmers can eventually benefit from the program, strengthening the dairy sector across Uasin Gishu County.
While the Maziwa ni School Fees Program is still in its pilot phase, the government aims to roll it out across the entire country. If successful, similar models could be applied to other cooperative societies, allowing more families to trade farm produce for essential services like education.
The program’s innovative approach to solving financial challenges in education has already been widely praised. Schools participating in the initiative report reduced financial pressure, while farmers appreciate the ability to pay fees without liquidating their assets.
With such a transformative initiative in place, the dream of making education accessible to all Kenyan children is becoming a reality—one liter of milk at a time!
