CS Ogamba Warn Principals Against Illegal Levies Amid Delayed Funding.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba has cautioned principals against collecting unauthorized levies from parents to compensate for delays in government funding. He warned that disciplinary action would be taken against those engaging in such illegal practices.
“We are aware that some Principals are collecting illegal levies from unsuspecting parents and this should come to an end,” he said.
Delayed Capitation Funds
Akelo Misori, the Secretary-General of the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), highlighted ongoing challenges in education funding, particularly the delayed release of capitation funds to both primary and secondary public schools.
Despite government promises to disburse 21 billion shillings by the previous Friday, no schools had received these funds. This delay, coming at the start of the school term, has caused significant operational difficulties.
Misori expressed concern that the government’s communication on education funding was unreliable, suggesting it created a false impression that efforts were being made to improve education standards.
He argued that this approach undermines service delivery and quality while creating anxiety among school administrators, who are often wrongly accused of charging illegal fees despite education being a constitutional right.
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Persistent Funding Gaps
The funding delays are not new, Misori emphasized, and fixing the problem requires prioritizing education as a national policy. He urged Parliament to take a more active oversight role rather than merely echo public frustrations.
According to KUPPET, lawmakers should hold accountable the Ministry of Education and the Treasury regarding the non-release of funds. This disconnect between government bodies worsens the education crisis and must be addressed to ensure smooth funding flows.
CS Ogamba Warn Principals Against Illegal Levies Amid Delayed Funding.
