SwitchLink Africa is targeting more than one million learners by June 2027 through a school-fee financing model that allows parents to spread payments over an agreed period, easing the burden of raising large sums when fees fall due.
The School Now, Pay Later scheme is designed to bridge cash-flow gaps for households while ensuring participating schools receive eligible fees upfront, reducing disruptions caused by delayed payments.
Under the model, eligible parents and guardians apply for financing and, once approved, SwitchLink settles the fees directly with the school. Parents then repay the company over an agreed period, with financing amounts and repayment arrangements determined by the school-fee requirement and the applicant’s assessment.
“Education is one of the biggest investments a parent can make, but the cost does not always fit neatly into a household’s cash-flow cycle. Our role is to bridge that gap. We pay the school upfront, while the parent repays us in a way that fits their income cycle,” says SwitchLink Africa Chief Executive Officer Daniel Kiriungi.
Kiriungi says the initiative aims to keep children in school while giving families greater flexibility in managing education expenses and helping schools maintain predictable cash flows.
SwitchLink is also pursuing partnerships with schools and education technology platforms to integrate the financing option into existing school-fee payment systems.
Kiriungi says the service would be measured by its impact on learners whose education might otherwise be interrupted by outstanding fees.
“Every child should have a chance to access education without their learning being interrupted because of the timing of school-fee payments,” he said.
UNESCO estimates that 250 million children worldwide are out of school, with financial constraints among the barriers limiting access to education. The UN agency links keeping children in school to improved educational outcomes to stronger long-term economic growth.