Cash Crisis in Schools as Government Delays Capitation
With five weeks remaining in the second term, schools are grappling with financial difficulties due to the government’s delay in releasing capitation funds essential for sustaining learning activities.
This cash crunch has shifted the burden to parents, as many schools are now demanding that students clear their fees before returning from the mid-term break.
Numerous schools have communicated to parents that students with unpaid balances will not be allowed in class.
In a message sent to parents, they were reminded to settle the second-term school fees by June 30, 2024.
Another message warned that students would be sent back home or required to report with their parents if the fees remained unpaid by July 1, 2024.
Challenges Faced by Schools
Dozens of school heads have reported that managing daily operations without capitation funds is extremely challenging.
Willy Kuria, the chairman of the Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (KESSHA) and principal of Murang’a High School, highlighted that day secondary schools, which heavily rely on capitation, are bearing the brunt of this financial strain.
“Schools did not receive the full amount of capitation funds they were set to get for the first term,” said Kuria.
Boarding schools are also affected, facing delays in both government funding and direct fees from parents.
Kuria stated that schools did not receive the full capitation funds for the first term.
In junior secondary and primary schools, head teachers are struggling not only with daily activities but also with supplementing the teacher shortage and fulfilling the needs of the Competency-Based Curriculum.
Johnson Nzioka, chairman of the Kenya Primary Schools Heads Association (KEPSHA), warned that primary schools, which solely depend on government funding and are not permitted to charge additional fees, are in a precarious situation.
This issue extends to junior secondary schools housed within primary institutions.
Government Response and Parental Concerns
While launching the fourth National Education Sector Strategic Plan 2023-27, Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu announced that schools would receive 30% of the capitation funds for the second term in June.
ALSO READ: CEMASTEA Launch Strategic Plan 2023-2027: Key Components
Parents have urged the government to expedite the release of capitation funds to alleviate the pressure on them to clear their arrears.
Silas Obuhatsa, chairman of the National Parents Association, stated that government funding would complement the funds raised by parents and called for a lenient payment plan to assist them.
Cash Crisis in Schools as Government Delays Capitation
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