School Principals Urge Government to release capitation funds to avert crisis.
Secondary school principals have requested that the government release capitation funds to schools in order to ease the administration of the institutions.
Last week, Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha stated that the government would release Sh15.8 billion to schools before they reopened.
On January 3, schools reopened for the third term of the 2021 academic year. Secondary schools were to receive Sh13 billion, while primary schools would receive Sh2.8 billion.
However, Kenya Secondary School Heads Association chairman Kahi Indimuli stated that the funds have yet to be deposited into the schools’ accounts.
He has urged the ministry to disburse funds on time in order to ensure effective budgeting and service delivery.
The principals stated that they are operating on a shoestring budget because the majority of students have yet to pay school fees.
According to Kahi, schools spend up to Sh2 million per year on support staff, with the majority employing an average of ten people.
The cost of running the schools is also high, with some institutions spending Sh434,269 on electricity per year, while the school with the highest bill paying Sh901,200.
Water costs an average of Sh355,539 per year, while sewerage services cost an average of Sh160,178.
According to Kenya Primary Schools Heads Association (Kepsha) chairman Johnson Nzioka, the situation is concerning for the more than 23,000 public primary schools, which rely entirely on government funding.
According to Nzioka, the institutions will be in a bad situation next week.
Also Read:
Principals claim that they have been unable to pay non-teaching staff and that some have accumulated salary arrears since last year as a result of the government’s underfunding of the institutions.
When contacted, Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Jwan did not take calls or respond to text messages. Due to the financial crisis, some secondary schools are sending students who are behind on their fees home.
School Principals Urge Government to release capitation funds to avert crisis
