Capitation Controversy as Machogu, School Heads Clash Over Sh11 Billion Term 1 Capitation
Secondary schools across the nation are at risk of losing up to Sh11 billion designated for their operations amid an ongoing financial crisis.
The headteachers and the Ministry of Education have differing views on the current financial situation.
Funding Delays and Shortfalls
Last week, school heads complained about delays in releasing second term funding and incomplete disbursements for the first term, amounting to about Sh11 billion in arrears.
However, on Thursday, Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu countered these claims, stating that both primary and secondary schools had received the full capitation amount for the first term.
Machogu assured that no school would close down as 50 percent of the capitation had been distributed to each secondary and primary school.
The government allocates Sh22,244 annually per student in public secondary schools, distributed in three installments: 50 percent in the first term, 30 percent in the second term, and the remaining 20 percent in the third term.
Headteachers reported receiving less than the expected 50 percent for the first term.
According to a document by KESSHA titled “Free Secondary Education Capitation, 2024,” the Ministry released Sh8,319.68 per learner for the first term, leaving a balance of Sh2,802.32 per student.
Implications of the Shortfall
The underfunding issue implies that institutions could miss out on Sh2,802 per student.
With 4.1 million learners in public secondary schools, this amounts to Sh11 billion for over 10,000 secondary schools across the country.
Machogu confirmed that the Ministry would distribute another 30 percent for the second term this month.
Machogu spoke at the Kenya School of Government during the launch of the fourth National Education Sector Strategic Plan.
This plan aims to provide access, equity, and quality education over the next five years, requiring over Sh4 trillion in funding.
The underfunding problem has plagued secondary schools for the past five years.
A petition presented to the National Assembly Committee on Education in December revealed that schools are owed Sh54 billion in capitation arrears from 2018 to 2023.
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Previous Admissions of Capitation Cuts
In March, Basic Education Principal Secretary Belion Kipsang admitted that the capitation per learner for free secondary education had been reduced from Sh22,224 to Sh17,000, resulting in a shortfall of Sh5,000 per student.
Kipsang attributed this reduction to the increased student population, despite the budget remaining at Sh65 billion.
He discussed this issue before the National Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee.
Capitation Controversy as Machogu, School Heads Clash Over Sh11 Billion Term 1 Capitation
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