Head Teachers Demand School Fund Increase, Insist on Fulfillment of Kenya Kwanza Education Pledges
Head teachers’ associations are now urging the government to increase school funding, as advocated by the Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms.
Secondary and primary school administrators want things completed by January, when schools return.
The principals want the implementation to include a proposal for a Minimum Essential Package – a fixed rate funding for schools – to ensure that their operations function smoothly.
Indimuli Kahi, Chairman of the Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (KESSHA), advocates for increased capitation through the Minimum Essential Package.
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The chairman argued that this is necessary in light of rising living costs and the high expense of teaching and learning resources.
The presidential reform team advocated setting pre-primary capitation at Sh1,170 per kid.
Primary students got Sh2,237 per learner, while junior secondary students received Sh15,544. The government currently allocates Sh1,420 every child to primary education. Senior school students will receive an additional Sh280, raising their total to Sh22,527.
“Although it does not meet the realities of the current economic times that has pushed up the prices of essential commodities, it will be important for a start,” he said.
The task committee recommended that pre-primary schools receive Sh70,000 per year, primary schools receive Sh537,000, junior schools receive Sh2.03 million, and senior schools receive Sh3.04 million.
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According to Kenya Primary School Heads Association leader Johnson Nzioka, it will be a game changer in education financing. “If increased capitation and the Minimum Essential Package are implemented, it will be a step in the right direction.”
The school administrators have also urged President Ruto to keep the Kenya Kwanza campaign pledges on education. Among these will be a recommendation to waive the cost of power and water, according to the principals.
Kahi reported that the Kenya Kwanza education charter had allegedly outlined the intention to grant a waiver on electricity and water bills. However, more than one year later, this provision is still pending consideration.
Additionally, Kahi emphasizes that decreasing the expenses related to water and electricity bills is a strategy to augment capitation. This is seen as a means for schools to redirect funds that would have otherwise been allocated for utility payments towards other educational purposes.
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To avoid disruptions in studying, school leaders also want capitation released on schedule and good guidance on school costs.
According to the chairman of KESSHA, students completing Form Four owe schools billions of shillings, but school heads have no way of forcing them to pay.
Head Teachers Demand School Fund Increase, Insist on Fulfillment of Kenya Kwanza Education Pledges