Govt Provides Ksh.9.6 Billion JSS Capitation for Grade 7, Warns School Heads
The Kenyan government has announced that it will provide Kshs. 9.6 billion to cover the capitation needs of Grade seven learners under the Junior Secondary School.
This amount is expected to meet the capitation needs for the first term, as capitation is disbursed in 50%, 30%, and 20% for the first, second, and third terms, respectively.
The 2nd term requirement of Kshs. 5.7 million will be considered in supplementary estimates, as previously communicated by the National Treasury.
Dr. Belio Kipsang, Principal Secretary for the State Department for Basic Education, made this announcement during his appearance before the Parliamentary Departmental Committee on Education and Research.
The committee is chaired by Tinderet MP Julius Melly. Dr. Kipsang also warned headteachers who are charging illegal and extra fees to stop, saying that this was pure impunity.
He further emphasized that the government will deal firmly with such headteachers, stating that “You don’t dare the government and get away with it.”
Members of the committee had earlier expressed their concern about headteachers across the country imposing levies on parents whose children joined Junior Secondary School. Mr.
Melly said that some headteachers were charging as high as Kshs. 8,000 for Grade seven children. Dr. Kipsang assured the committee that the Ministry will work through a multi-agency system to stamp out illegal levies schools were charging parents.
Dr. Kipsang also suggested that budgetary allocation towards the Free Day Secondary Education Programme be based on capitation per child and not block funding.
He argued that this would forestall the shortfalls in capitation as block funding did not take into account the increase in enrollment over time.
In conclusion, the Kenyan government’s provision of Kshs. 9.6 billion to meet the capitation needs for Grade seven learners under the Junior Secondary School is a significant boost to the education sector.
This move will enable learners to receive quality education without having to pay illegal and extra fees. The government’s commitment to stamp out illegal levies charged by schools is also commendable, as it will enable parents to have a clearer understanding of their financial obligations to their children’s education.
The proposal to base budgetary allocation towards the Free Day Secondary Education Programme on capitation per child is also a welcome development that will ensure the provision of quality education to all children, regardless of their socio-economic background.
Govt Provides Ksh.9.6 Billion JSS Capitation for Grade 7, Warns School Heads