Financial Struggles Force School Principals to Shift Fees Burden onto Parents, Says KNUT Official
On Thursday, June 29, the Deputy Secretary General of the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), Hesbon Otieno, implied that school principals were clinging to financial life by transferring the fees burden to parents to keep their schools afloat.
In an interview with Radio Citizen, Otieno accused Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu of giving parents and school principals false assurances that the government had already disbursed funds to schools.
In addition, he stated that principals were in a difficult position because an overwhelming majority of parents believed Machogu was pitting him against school principals who complained they lacked the funds to purchase basic school supplies.
“When the government claims to have disbursed funds to schools, parents are more inclined to believe the government than the school principals.
“When the Education CS says that the government has disbursed the capitation, parents believe that the principals are lying because they cannot purchase school necessities such as books and food,” Otieno said.
The Deputy SG accused Machogu of playing politics with the school principals, adding that Machogu’s promises were an attempt to convince the public that the government was doing a good job, even though the reality was quite different.
ALSO READ: Concerns Mount as School Heads Fear Delayed Capitation Funds Will Disrupt Calendars
Otieno stated that to continue educating students and providing a conducive learning environment, school principals will have to request higher fees from parents.
He pleaded with parents to comprehend the predicament of the school principals, absolving them (principals) of plotting to profit from the directive.
“This is merely politics to demonstrate that the government is functioning. The principals will be unable to avoid increasing the fees.
“There is no other way to obtain these funds for the school to function effectively. The only other option is to return home and tell the parents the truth. “The principals are responsible for obtaining the funds from the parents,” he added.
In addition, he requested that Machogu refrains from portraying principals in a negative light, adding that as long as schools lacked government funding, there was no other way to operate them.
“The CS should not allege that principals are coercing parents into giving money; parents must recognize that education must continue.” It is the reality of the situation, not a threat.
Wednesday, June 28th, Education Cabinet Secretary (CS) Ezekiel Machogu announced the government’s intention to hire more than 24,000 teachers to close the nationwide teacher shortage at the start of the 2023/2024 Fiscal Year.
Beginning 1 July, the government will no longer distribute capitation to schools every quarter. Instead, school administrators will receive capitation in the proportions of 50:30:20 for the first, second, and third terms, respectively.
Financial Struggles Force School Principals to Shift Fees Burden onto Parents, Says KNUT Official
HEY READER. PLEASE SUPPORT THIS SITE BY CLICKING ADS. DON’T FORGET TO HIT THE NOTIFICATION BELL FOR MORE UPDATES AROUND THE GLOBE.
