Concerns Mount as School Heads Fear Delayed Capitation Funds Will Disrupt Calendars
As a result of delays in the government’s release of capitation funds, secondary school administrators across the country are concerned that certain core school activities will be negatively impacted.
Wednesday at a meeting in Mombasa, school administrators urged the government to increase the per-child allocation in light of shifting economic conditions.
Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (KESSHA) Chairperson Indimuli Kahi stated, “We don’t even get 100% of the Ksh.22,000; there was a balance of Ksh.4,000 last year, and we’ve only received Ksh.17,000 this year. We need the balance.”
The annual gathering of secondary school principals was prompted by the challenges currently facing the education sector, particularly in terms of finances.
Public secondary schools bear the brunt of delayed funds disbursements; the government gives each high school student Ksh.22,444 as capitation, but school administrators claim that this allocation is insufficient, comes late, and is not fully paid.
The schools insist that the delay in disbursement and payment of fees by the parents has a negative impact not only on academics but also on extracurricular activities such as sports, drama, and the arts.
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The government is under pressure not only to release the funds on time and in full but also to increase the per-child capitation.
Kahi added, “We propose that the Ministry of Education consider increasing the proposed capitation from the current amount of Ksh.22,244 to Ksh.30,000.”
Recent increases in the cost of living, according to school administrators, will necessitate budget adjustments.
“For sub-county schools, for example, we must provide lunch, we must purchase maize and maize has increased in price, we must purchase beans and a 2kg tin costs Ksh.500…for some of us who provide rice, a kilogram of rice has increased in price,” said Janet Moraa, a head teacher.
The ministry, on the other hand, stated that the issue of funding for not only secondary education but the entire sector will be better managed, especially since the government has allocated more funds this fiscal year, from 25% of the budget to 29%, totaling Kshs.628 billion.
Ezekiel Machogu, secretary of the cabinet for education, reassured them that the government has allocated sufficient funds for this fiscal year’s plans.
This year, according to the CS, the formula for the release of the funds will be rationalized.
“This year, we want to return to the 50, 30, 20 system from the current quarterly system,” he said.
Machogu also desires that schools be frugal with their financial management and stretch their shillings to reduce the high cost of commodities.
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The CS and the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) informed the principals of their intentions to hire more teachers during the current fiscal year.
Concerns Mount as School Heads Fear Delayed Capitation Funds Will Disrupt Calendars
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