Release Funds or Risk Closure, School Heads Warn as Commodity Prices Skyrocket
Schools across the country are facing a severe challenge in retaining learners as commodity prices continue to surge, breaking previously established budgets.
In the midst of this crisis, the Ministry of Education has yet to disburse the much-needed capitation funds to schools, causing further strain.
With depleted supplies of food and other essentials, school managers are now left with the difficult choice of accumulating more debts with suppliers or requesting parents to pay additional fees.
Schools now warn that they will be unable to retain students in school if the government does not intervene immediately. There is a risk of unrest, according to some school administrators, if the delay in releasing funds persists.
The situation is exacerbated by the economic difficulties faced by many parents who are unable to pay school fees in full.
Since schools drew up their budgets, commodity prices have skyrocketed, in some instances more than doubling.
Some school budgets were created months ago when prices were significantly lower, and the subsequent surge has resulted in a financial crisis for schools.
Headmasters have resorted to discussing food rationing or skipping meals with students, a sensitive issue particularly for boarding schools.
The financial challenges have reached a critical point, and urgent action from the Ministry of Education is desperately needed.
Schools pay between Sh15,000 and Sh20,000 for a 90kg sack of beans, while they pay between Sh7,000 and Sh8,000 for a 90kg bag of maize. Both are prevalent in school lunches.
“There is an urgent need for the Ministry of Education to send capitation grants to schools. Schools are operating on the edge due to financial challenges. Headmasters are talking to pupils to agree on food rationing or skipping meals, which is a very sensitive issue, especially in boarding schools,” said Emuhaya MP and KUPPET national chair Omboko
Beyond food, schools are grappling with the impact of rising prices on other expenditures such as electricity and fuel.
A litre of diesel costs Sh169.10 on average, up from Sh131.91 at the same time last year, while a litre of gasoline costs Sh183.29 as opposed to Sh150.94.
The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics reports substantial increases in the cost of electricity and fuel compared to the previous year.
Schools rely on generators and vehicles that consume diesel and petrol, making them susceptible to the rising costs.
While the government pays for tuition at primary and secondary institutions, parents are responsible for board and meals at day schools.
These elevated prices exceed what schools had budgeted for, leaving management committees in a difficult position, unable to adjust fees without government approval.
Consequently, the financial strain on schools continues to mount, affecting various aspects of their operations.
Suppliers have also imposed stricter conditions on schools, demanding advance payment before delivering essential food items.
The high cost of living and limited resources have forced schools to take everything on credit, incurring significant expenses. The inability to secure necessary supplies without upfront payment exacerbates the financial challenges schools are facing.
The resulting burden threatens to leave schools with substantial deficits and uncertain prospects for repayment. Some head teachers express concerns over who will ultimately bear the responsibility for these debts.
Increasing fees or receiving timely capitation funds from the government are identified as potential solutions to this pressing issue.
While the closure of schools due to the financial crisis may seem like a drastic measure, it is an option that some schools may be forced to consider.
However, stakeholders such as the National Parents Association oppose such closures, emphasizing that parents are also experiencing hardships.
They argue that managing students within the school environment is preferable to the challenges that arise when they are at home.
Instead of closure, parents and school managers are urged to find alternative solutions to mitigate the situation.
Persuading learners to accept available food options, deviating from their routine menus, is suggested as a potential approach to address the shortage of supplies.
Nandi Governor Stephen Sang reveals that secondary school principals have sought assistance from the county government to purchase food supplies.
The high prices have made it difficult for schools to afford essential items like maize and beans.
Additionally, the Ministry of Education promised to disburse Sh28 billion into school accounts by a specific deadline.
However, the failure to meet this commitment raises concerns about the reliability of these promises.
While the Ministry and its officials were unavailable for comment, the urgency of the situation necessitates immediate action to alleviate the financial strain faced by schools.
Release Funds or Risk Closure, School Heads Warn as Commodity Prices Skyrocket